Downham Market Academy

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 in Care, also known as Looked After Children (LAC), and children who were looked after but ceased to be so by reason of adoption, a resident order or a special guardianship order. Children who appear to the Admission Authority to have been in state care outside of England but ceased to be so as a result of being adopted only.
2. 2Children of staff — Children of staff who have been employed at the Academy for at least two years at the time of application or have been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
3. 3Catchment area, feeder primary school and sibling — Children who live in catchment area, attend feeder primary schools within the catchment area and who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission.
4. 4Catchment area with sibling — Children who live in the catchment area with a sibling at the school at the time of the admission.
5. 5Catchment area, feeder primary school — Children who live in the catchment area who attend the feeder primary schools within it.
6. 6Catchment area — Children who live in the catchment area.
7. 7Outside catchment, feeder primary school and sibling — Children who live outside the catchment area, who attend feeder primary schools within it and who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission.
8. 8Outside catchment with sibling — Children who live outside the catchment area who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission.
9. 9Outside catchment, feeder primary school — Children who live outside the catchment area who attend feeder primary schools within the catchment area.
10. 10Outside catchment, nearest by distance — Children who live outside the catchment area, but nearest the school as measured by a straight line.

If two applications tie: Where places are oversubscribed within any of the above groups, priority will be given to children living nearest to the Academy, measured by a straight line between the Academy's main entrance and the front door of the dwelling at which the child is normally resident. In the event of a tie, random allocation will be used, carried out by an independent panel.

Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted before this ordered list is applied. A map of the Academy's defined catchment area is available on Norfolk County Council's website (not reproduced here).

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.