The Holy Cross School

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Catholic looked after and previously looked after baptised Catholic girls — Catholic looked after or Catholic previously Looked After baptised Catholic girls (see explanatory notes b and c) evidenced by a copy of the official Certificate of Baptism.
2. 2Baptised Catholic girls — (i) Girls who are baptised Catholics whose Mass attendance (at the time of application) is verified by their priest evidenced by a copy of the official Certificate of Baptism and a signed and stamped Certificate of Catholic Practice Form (CoP) (see explanatory notes c and d). (ii) Baptised Catholic girls evidenced by a copy of the official Certificate of Baptism but without a Certificate of Catholic Practice Form (CoP).
3. 3Other looked after girls and girls in the catechumenate — (i) Other looked after or previously looked after girls (see explanatory note b). (ii) Girls enrolled and registered in the Catechumenate, evidence of enrolment into the catechumenate should be by an official letter from the parish priest (see explanatory note e).
4. 4Eastern Christian churches and other Christian denominations — Girls who are baptised (where infant baptism is practised) and verified members of Eastern Christian churches including Orthodox churches or those who are members of other Christian denominations that are part of Churches Together in England (see explanatory note f and g) evidenced by a copy of the signed Certificate of Baptism or Dedication (where applicable) or a signed letter from the religious minister on official letterhead paper confirming membership of the Christian denomination.
5. 5Members of other faiths — Girls who are members of other faiths who attend a recognised place of worship and whose membership is supported by a recognised minister or religious leader evidenced by a signed letter from the faith leader on official letterhead paper confirming membership of the faith.
6. 6All other girls — All other girls (girls who do not meet any of the criteria listed above.)

If two applications tie: Oversubscription tiebreakers within each criterion. Where the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available within any of the six criteria listed above, the following tie-breakers will be applied in the order stated below: A. A girl with a sister, including a step, half, adopted or foster sister living at the same address currently on roll at the school and who will continue to be enrolled at The Holy Cross School in September 2025. B. A girl whose parent or carer is a permanent member of staff and where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, or the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. D. A girl living nearest to the school, this being measured by a straight line to the school gate in Sandal Road. All distances will be measured using Kingston Council's School Admissions computerised geographical information system. Where the last remaining place is to be allocated and two or more children are deemed to live at the same distance from the school the place will be decided by the drawing of lots. Where parents or carers live separately, the application must be based on the address where the child lives most of the time; where the child lives equally with both parents or carers at different addresses, parents or carers must decide who makes the application before applying to the local authority, and proof of the equal shared care agreement and the child's residency at this address should be provided. Only one application will be accepted and the final decision rests with the local authority.

The brochure states "This is a summary of the oversubscription criteria. It is your responsibility to read the full policy on the school's website for further information about each criteria and your responsibilities as the applicant before making your application." Kingston composite brochure, "Admission arrangements for 2026" (September 2026 entry), secondary section. The entry also notes "Sixth Form admissions are managed directly by the school. Refer to the school's policy." Two defects in this entry: the tie-breakers are lettered A, B, D - there is no C; and tie-breaker A requires the sister to 'continue to be enrolled at The Holy Cross School in September 2025', a stale year inside a September 2026 brochure. The entry also opens 'Where the number of applicants exceeds 150, the governors will offer places using the criteria in the order stated below', which implies but does not state an admission number, so no PAN is recorded.

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.