The Whitstable School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children — A looked-after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions... A previously looked after child means such children who were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after...
2. 2Sibling connection — Applicants who have a brother or sister attending the school when the child starts. Brother or sister means children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural, adopted, step- and foster siblings.
3. 3Children of staff — Children of staff, where the member of staff has been employed at The Whitstable School on a permanent contract for 2 years or more or has been recruited to fill a post for which there is a demonstrable skills shortage.
4. 4Special aptitude in Music, Dance, Drama or Art — Applicants who can demonstrate a special aptitude in Music, Dance, Drama or Art (up to a maximum of 10% of places in all). Applicants under this criterion must complete a Supplementary Information Form (Appendix 1) so that evidence can be reviewed by an independent panel.
5. 5Health and Special Access Reasons — Medical, health, social and special access reasons will be applied in accordance with the school's legal obligations, in particular those under the Equality Act 2010. Priority will be given to those children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Equally, this priority will apply to children whose parents'/guardians' physical or mental health or social needs means that they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Such claims will need to be supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical or another practitioner.
6. 6Any other children (distance) — Within criteria 1, 2, 4 and 5 children will be prioritised based on their distance to the school. The distance is measured between the child's permanent address and the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point data.

If two applications tie: In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place. This process will be independently verified.

Up to 10% of places reserved for special aptitude in Music, Dance, Drama or Art, requiring a Supplementary Information Form and panel evidence review; this is a distinct oversubscription criterion (rank 4), not a whole-school selective test.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.