Outwood Academy Riverside

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 — ‘Children looked after’ (in public care), and children previously ‘looked after’, but ceased to be so because they were adopted* immediately following having been looked after. (* or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). This includes those who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. See Note 1. www.middlesbrough.gov.uk Page | 170
2. 2Pupils who will have a brother and/or step brother and/or sister and/or step sister or t… — Pupils who will have a brother and/or step brother and/or sister and/or step sister or the child of the parent/carer’s partner living at the same address attending the school in the September of admission. See Note 2.
3. 3Exceptional medical or psychological grounds — Pupils with exceptional social and/or medical reasons for attending the school, which in the latter circumstances are substantiated by the LA medical advisors. A letter from the child’s GP or other relevant professional such as a social worker must be submitted with the application. Social reasons do not include domestic arrangements such as parents working commitments or childcare arrangements. Exceptional circumstances such as parents who have a disability, which may mean their child must attend a particular school, will be considered. (In this instance a letter from the parent’s GP or other relevant professional such as a social worker must be submitted with the application). The supporting letter should detail why the school (s) applied for is / are the only one (s) that can accommodate the child. See Note 3.
4. 4Distance from the school — Pupils who reside closest to the school as determined by a straight line distance measurement; from the address point for the child’s home to the identified main school gate, using the Local Authority’s computerised measuring system, with those living closer to the school receiving the higher priority. When distinguishing between pupils within the same criteria the pupil with the highest second criteria will be admitted. Should it not be possible to separate two or more applications, for example two applicants who live at an equal distance from the school, the Local Authority’s computerised system will use random selection. Note 1. 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 (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) at the time of making an application to a school. A child is regarded as having been in state care outside of England if they were in the care of or were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation, or any other provider of care whose sole or main purpose is to benefit society. This includes children who were adopted under the Adoption Act 1976 (see Section 12 adoption orders) and children who were adopted under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (see Section 46 adoption orders). A ‘child arrangements order’ is an order settling the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 as amended by Section 14 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians). Relevant evidence must be provided such as a copy of the adoption certificate or court order plus details of when and where the child was in care and names and contact details of social workers involved. If relevant evidence is not provided the child cannot be considered under this criteria. Note 2. For consideration under the sibling criteria, the sibling must still attend the school at the time when the child for whom the place is sought joins the school. Note 3. Full details must be submitted at the time of application. If you have any concerns or need any guidance about what might be classed as exceptional social or medical reasons, or what evidence may be submitted, please contact the Admissions Team to discuss the matter in confidence before you submit your application. Applications submitted with evidence appertaining to exceptional social and or medical reasons may be shared with and discussed at an admissions panel meeting which can include professionals such as a doctor, educational psychologist, social worker etc who will give opinions and make decisions on whether the application fits the criteria.

Transcribed verbatim from Appendix A of Middlesbrough Council's School Admissions Guide for Parents 2027/2028, which reproduces the determined admission arrangements and oversubscription criteria of every Middlesbrough school. A child with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school is admitted first; that is not an oversubscription criterion. 'Admission Zone' is the council's term for the school's catchment area. Section: 'Outwood Grange Academies Trust Admissions Arrangements – 2027-28' (guide page 171).

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.