Lawnswood 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 and previously looked after children — A looked after child is defined as a child who is (one of the following): in the care of a local authority being provided with accommodation by a local authority’s social services (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) A previously looked after child is any child who was previously looked after but stopped being so because they were (one of the following): adopted became subject to a Special Guardianship Order became subject to a Child Arrangements Order were in state care outside of England and were then adopted You must submit evidence of your child’s previously looked after status (a copy of the court order and evidence of being in local authority or state care outside England) with your application.
2. 2Children with exceptional social or medical needs that can only be met at a specific community school — This priority is a request for admission to one specific school because your child has exceptional needs that can only be met at that school. It must be supported by professional evidence. All schools in Leeds have experience of supporting a wide range of social and medical needs. However, in exceptional cases, there may be compelling reasons why a child needs to attend one specific school. This priority can be requested in these cases, and applicants will need to clearly demonstrate the connection between your child’s need, the specific school and how that school can meet your child’s needs in a way that no other school can. It must be supported by professional evidence. A panel of council officers will review your request for this priority. A request would not be granted where a parent wishes for their child to attend a school based on the child’s abilities, because their friends attend the school or due to childcare arrangements. Any request for this priority must outline why the child’s circumstances are exceptional, and why only one school is suitable. You can find out more about this priority on our check if you need to submit extra information page. You must provide the following information with your application: your child’s name, date of birth and address the name of the one school you are requesting this priority for what precise support your child requires due to their specific needs why only this school can provide the support needed to meet your child’s needs and no other can what extra support or funding your child currently receives you must attach supporting evidence from an independent professional, such as a medical specialist which confirms exactly what your child’s needs are and why, in their view, only one school can meet that need. Without this evidence, your child’s needs cannot be considered. Cases will be considered individually and where necessary in consultation with the school that you’ve requested.
3. 3Children who have a brother or sister attending the school — To get this priority, the sibling must: live at the same address as the child applying be attending the school and still be expected to attend the school when the child starts be a full, half, step or foster sibling (this priority does not include cousins or other family members sharing a house) if an older sibling is attending a schools sixth form, they must have been going to the school in Year 11 to be considered as a sibling in this priority.
4. 4Children who live in the catchment priority area for the school — Each of the community secondary schools in Leeds has a defined catchment priority area. Allerton High School’s catchment area has two zones and places will be allocated to children living in zone one and then to children in zone two. You can: check your address to see if it is in any catchment area find catchment area maps for each school If you live in the catchment area your application will receive a higher priority at that school than applicants who live outside the catchment area. Living in the catchment area does not guarantee a place at the school.
5. 5other children, by straight line distance — If none of the other priorities apply, your application will be considered under this priority.

Children with a school named on their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan will be given a place in that school. If a school has more applications than places (called being oversubscribed) we will give children priority for places in the following order: If children meet the same priority (tie break) In any priority, if children meet the same priority but there are not enough places left for all of them, the places will be allocated based on distance from the school. For example, if there are 4 places remaining at the school and 5 children all live in the priority catchment area, the 4 priority catchment children living closest to the school will be allocated those places. If two or more children live exactly the same distance from the school (i.e. in a block of flats) and there are not enough places for both, we will draw lots. This will be witnessed by a person independent of the school. We will not draw lots for twins or other multiple birth siblings from the same family. Where they are tied for the final place, we will admit them all, exceeding the Published Admissions Number for the school.

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.