Hexham Middle School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 5), 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 — Looked after children and all previously looked after children, including those children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. A ‘looked after child’ is a child (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. A ‘previously looked after child’ is a child that ceased to be looked after because they were adopted, became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order. Previously looked after children also include those who appear (to the admission authority of the school) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society. 8 9 |
2. 2Residence in the school's catchment area — Children living within the catchment area of the school and those on whose behalf firm evidence is presented that they will be living in the catchment area by 31 October 2026.
3. 3Exceptional medical or psychological grounds — Children with an exceptional social or medical reason that means that they can only attend that specific school (for example, where the child or one or both parents has a disability that means that the child can only go to one school). • Strong supporting evidence must be provided from a professional body involved with the family or the child. • The professional must be independent of both the family and the school. • The evidence must relate specifically to the school for which the application is being made and must demonstrate clearly that, because of the exceptional need, only Queen Elizabeth High School is suitable for the child to attend AND no other local school would also be suitable. NB: No assumptions should be made that the submission of the relevant evidence will in itself be sufficient to allocate a place. Supporting evidence must be submitted at the time of application. A place will not be offered under this criterion if the applicant omits to send to the School Admissions Manager a written statement from a professional third party by 31 October of the academic year of offer.
4. 4Sibling link — Children who have a sibling who already attends the school and who is expected to be on roll at the school at the time of admission. For the purpose of admissions, a sibling is deemed to be a natural brother or sister, a half brother or sister, a legally adopted brother or sister or half-brother or sister, a step brother or sister, or other child living in the same household who, in any of these cases, will be living with them at the same address at the date of their entry.
5. 5Children of staff — Children of staff in either or both of the following circumstances: a) 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; and/or b) the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post at the school for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. This will apply to teaching staff and support staff across Hadrian Learning Trust
6. 6Children attending a feeder school — Requests on behalf of pupils which are based on the need to maintain continuity of educational provision within the feeder pattern of Northumberland’s system of schools. The feeder schools for Queen Elizabeth High School are: • Acomb First • Beaufront First • Chollerton First • Hexham First • Humshaugh CE First • The Sele First • Whitley Chapel CE First
7. 7Any other children — All other children who do not fall into the categories above. 9 0 | Other Points • Parents may be asked to provide evidence of residency if Hexham Middle School is oversubscribed. In instances where it is demonstrated that a place has been obtained on the basis of a false statement of address, the Trust reserves the right to discount the clause covering attendance at a feeder school when considering an application for a place on transfer to the next stage of schooling. • Where the last place to be allocated would mean that a multiple birth sibling group, i.e. twins, triplets, or other multiple birth sibling groups would be split, the sibling will be accepted and admitted over the PAN. • Should it prove necessary, because places are limited, to distinguish between children in any given category priority will be given to those who live nearest to the school, measured in a direct line (‘as the crow flies’) using the LA’s computerised measuring system (GIS). Where shared parental living arrangements are in place, distance to school will take into account the nearer of the child’s two residences to the school. Where two or more distances are found to be equal a system of random allocation will apply, independently administered. Applicants refused admission are entitled to an appeal which is determined by an independent panel.

Transcribed verbatim from Section 5 of Northumberland County Council's Admissions Handbook for Middle, Secondary and High Schools 2027-28, which reproduces the determined admission policy of each voluntary aided, foundation, trust and academy school. A child with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school is admitted first; that is not an oversubscription criterion. Northumberland runs a three-tier pattern in parts of the county, so entry is at Year 5 (middle), Year 7 (secondary) or Year 9 (high). Section: 'Hexham Middle School' (handbook page 89).

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.