Priory School

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 — Looked after children and previously looked after children (as defined in section 3)
2. 2Exceptional medical and social need — Each application wishing to be considered under this criterion must include supporting evidence from an independent professional such as a doctor and or consultant for medical needs or a social worker, health visitor, housing officer, the police or probation officer for social needs. This evidence must confirm the family or child's medical or social needs and must be clear why these needs can only be met at this school rather than any other. The evidence must be specific to this school and it must show why the school is the most suitable; what facilities will benefit the child, and why no other school can offer the same support.
3. 3Children of staff — Children of school staff where the member of staff meets the criteria under section 3.
4. 4Sibling on roll — Children who at the time of application have a sibling (as defined in section 3) on the roll of the school and who will still be on roll at the time of the sibling's admission. Priority will not be given to children with siblings who are former pupils of the School (or who left during or at the end of academic year 2026/27)
5. 5Children living within catchment and attending a linked school — Children whose permanent home address is inside the school's designated catchment area and attend a linked school. In alphabetical order: Craneswater Junior School, Fernhurst Junior School, Wimborne Junior School
6. 6Children living in catchment not attending linked school — Children whose permanent home address is inside the School's designated catchment area and who live closest to the school. Distances will be measured from the Ordnance Survey home address point to the school address point using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
7. 7Children living outside the catchment area, in order of priority — i. Children living outside the designated catchment area who attend a linked school as mentioned in the list above ii. Children who are eligible for the Service Premium. Note; Service Premium is eligible to children of people in the Armed Services as outlined in S14 of the Education Act 2002. iii. Children who live closest to the school based on distance measured from the ordnance survey home address point to school using the GIS system.

If two applications tie: When two or more applicants are equidistant, random allocation will be used to allocate a place by the Local authority who are coordinating the admissions process.

Portsmouth's school directory page for this school gives its published admission number as 250. The page carries no academic year, so the figure is recorded against the live round only and not back-dated. Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted before oversubscription criteria apply. Service Premium children are given priority within the seventh criterion (outside catchment). Staff children of less than two years' employment may also qualify if recruited for a demonstrable skill shortage post.

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.