Hayfield Cross CofE School

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

1. 1Looked after children and all previously looked after children
2. 2Children of members of staff who have been employed by the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made
3. 3Children who have a sibling attending the school at the time of admission (see sibling

If two applications tie: Applications within each category will be prioritised on the distance from the child’s home to school. Distances are measured on a straight-line basis from the address point of the child’s home to the address point of the school, using a Geographical Information System. In the case where there are multiple applications from the same shared dwelling (e.g., Flats) or where there are two homes where the distance from the address point of the home to the address point of the school (using the system referred to above) is identical, random allocation, supervised by a suitable independent person, will be used to decide the priority in which applicants are

The Governing Board will admit all pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names the school. Home address The home address of a child is considered to be the permanent residence of the child in a residential property on the statutory closing date for primary allocations. The address must be the child’s only or main residence and is either: • Owned by the child’s parent, parents, or carers or guardian or • Leased to or rented by the child’s parent, parents, carers or guardian under lease or written rental agreement of not less than six months’ duration. The property leased must be where the family lives. Documentary evidence of ownership or rental agreement may be required together with proof of actual permanent residence at the property concerned. Places cannot be allocated on the basis of intended future changes of address unless house moves have been confirmed through the exchange of contracts or the signing of a formal lease agreement. The Governing Board reserves the right to seek further documentary evidence to support a claim to residence. Parents, carers and guardians must notify the school of any change of address during the admissions procedure. Please note that the Governing Board is unable to allocate a place to anyone moving into the country from abroad or within the U.K. prior to their arrival in the country. The Governing Board would then require proof of residency as stated above. The only exceptions are children of UK service personnel and other Crown Servants (including Diplomats). In this care the admissions committee will: • use the address at which the child will live when applying their oversubscription criteria, as long as the parent provides some evidence of their intended address; • use a Unit or quartering address as the child’s home address when considering the application where a parent requests this. Sibling Pupils who will have a brother or sister continuing on the school roll at the date of starting at the school. The definition of a brother or sister (sometimes referred to as a “sibling”) is: • A brother or sister sharing the same parents • A half-brother or half-sister, where two children share one common parent • A step-brother or step-sister, where two children are related by a parent’s marriage or partnership. The partners must have co-habited in a permanent exclusive relationship (as if they were husband and wife or civil partners) for a minimum of 2 years prior to the statutory closing date for primary allocations. • A child who has been adopted or is fostered by parents/carers who have other children. Siblings must be living at the same address on the statutory closing date for applications. Joint Custody Arrangements • Where a child lives between two parents the qualifying address will be where the child sleeps the majority of the school week. • If the child spends equal amounts of time at the two addresses parents must nominate which address they wish to be the child’s main address. • Documentary proof may be sought, such as a medical card. If a child is resident with any other relative it must be clearly stated on the preference form. • It should be noted that an address used for childcare arrangements cannot be used as a home address for the purpose of applying for a school place. Please note – if false or misleading information is used to try to gain a place, this may lead the Governing Board to reject the application or to withdraw the offer of a place. Map of the area: Hanwood Park is defined as the area shown on the map below:

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.