- How many pupils attend The Duchess's Community High School?
- The Duchess's Community High School has 1,276 pupils on roll.
- What ages does The Duchess's Community High School take?
- The Duchess's Community High School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
- Where is The Duchess's Community High School located?
- The Duchess's Community High School is located in Alnwick, NE66 2DH, Northumberland.
- How do I apply to The Duchess's Community High School?
- The Duchess's Community High School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
- How are Year 7 places decided at The Duchess's Community High School?
- When The Duchess's Community High School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Children in Public Care (and as deemed under Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) including a child who was previously “looked after” but immediately after being “looked after” became subject to an adoption, residence, or special guardianship order. 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. Note: 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. 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 Childrens Act 2002 (see section 46 adoption orders). Child arrangements orders are defined in s.8 of the Children Act 1989, as amended by s.12 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Child arrangements orders replace residence orders and any residence order in force prior to 22 April 2014 is deemed to be a child arrangements order. See Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 which defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians). 8 3 | 2. Feeder schools (in descending order of priority) a. Children on roll in a Pele Trust primary school, i.e. Branton, Ellingham, Embleton Vincent Edwards, Longhoughton, Shilbottle and Swansfield Park) who also live in the catchment area (as defined by Pele Trust and available in Appendix 1 and on the Northumberland County Council ‘school catchment area digital maps; 2. Residence in the school's catchment area — Children living in the catchment area on whose behalf firm evidence is presented that they will be living in the catchment area by the appropriate admission date; 3. Residence in the school's catchment area — Children who reside outside of the catchment area but have attended a Pele Trust primary school (Alnwick hub) for a minimum of two full academic years immediately before an application is made 3. Exceptional medical or social need a. Children on whose behalf evidence of exceptional medical or exceptional social need is presented. This must be a significant need and applicants must prove that the preferred school is the only one that can meet it. For example, a child has a severe, life-threatening airborne allergy to something specific (e.g., a specific type of tree or animal) that is heavily present on the grounds of their catchment school, but is entirely absent from the preferred school. b. Evidence must be supported by a written statement by a professionally involved third party, such as a doctor or a social worker. The Trust Board will make decisions based on the professional evidence submitted. 4. Siblings a. Students who have an older brother or sister who already attends the same Pele Trust school and who is expected to be on roll at the school at the time of admission. [For the purpose of admission siblings are deemed to be brothers and sisters, step brothers and sisters, adopted brothers and sisters and other children who reside permanently in the household and are treated as siblings.] 5. Children of staff employed within the Pele Trust secondary school applied for a. Children of staff employed within the Pele Trust school applied for where the member of staff has worked in that school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission is made and/or the member of staff has been recruited to fill a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage. 6. Other a. Children who do not qualify under the oversubscription points 1-5 above 8 4 |. The school offers 210 places at this entry point.
- What is the largest ethnic background at The Duchess's Community High School?
- According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 92.5% of pupils at The Duchess's Community High School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.