Morpeth Road Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked after children — Looked after children - A ‘Looked-after’ child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residency/child arrangement or special guardianship order – a child that is looked-after’ by a Local Authority in accordance with Section 22(1) of the Children’s Act 1989 and a child who was looked after, but ceased to be so, because of adoption (or become subject to a child arrangements order, residence order or special guardianship order) and a ‘Looked-after’ child who appears to the Admission Authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as 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
2. 2Siblings — Siblings - Children who have a sibling attending Morpeth Road Academy at the time of their application. Sibling refers to a brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister or foster brother or sister. Thechild of the parent/carer’s partner is also classed as a sibling if the child for whom the place is sought is living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling.
3. 3Exceptional medical or psychological reasons — Exceptional medical or psychological reasons - Parents must include a medical or psychological report, prepared by a professional, to confirm information that parent includes in this section. This report should explain why only this academy could meet the child’s medical or psychological needs. Common childhood medical conditions such as asthma or giving a child’s nervousness at starting new school as a psychological reason for choosing a particular school are unlikely to be accepted as exceptional. It will be for the committee of the Trust Board responsible for admissions to determine whether the evidence is acceptable under this criteria.
4. 4Feeder School — Feeder School - Children who attend the Nursery Class of Morpeth Road Academy in the previous academic year to that of their application.
5. 5Neighbourhood Places — Neighbourhood Places - Should it prove necessary, because places are limited, to distinguish between pupils 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’) from the front door of the home to the main gate of the school. The distance checker is contained within the Local Authority’s EMS school admissions software using GIS data. Distance checking is an integral function within the school admissions software ensuring consistency in measurement

Transcribed verbatim from Northumberland County Council's Admissions Handbook for First and Primary Schools 2026-27, 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. Section: 'Morpeth Road Academy' (handbook page 95).

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.