Springfield 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 Children — These are defined as 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. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order.
2. 2Significant medical, physical, psychological or social need — Children or families who have a significant medical, physical, psychological or social need. Evidence must be attached with the application. Applications under this criterion must be supported by written evidence from an appropriate professional person involved stating clearly why the preferred school is the most appropriate for the child and reasons why other schools in the city are inappropriate.
3. 3Children of staff employed at the school — (a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application is made, and or (b) the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage
4. 4Children living within the school's designated catchment area — Children living within the school's designated catchment area. (If the school cannot admit all applications from the catchment area, applicants will be ranked within this category in accordance with priorities 5(i) to (v) below).
5. 5Children living outside the catchment area – sibling — children who have a brother or sister (living within the same household) already on roll and who will still be attending the school the following academic year. Note – this category includes step-brothers/step-sisters, adoptive brothers/sisters living within the same household or children whose parents are married or cohabiting and live together within the same household.
6. 6Children living outside the catchment area – service premium — children eligible for service premium. Service premium is paid to eligible children of armed services personnel under S14 of the Education Act 2002.
7. 7Children living outside the catchment area – feeder school — children attending a feeder junior/primary school; Please see a list of feeder junior/primary schools below in 'Additional information'.
8. 8Children living outside the catchment area – distance — children who live closest to the school, based on the shortest distance from home to school, measured on a straight line (This distance will be used where necessary to prioritise applications). Should there be two or more identical distances requiring prioritisation, this will be done by casting lots.

If two applications tie: Should there be two or more identical distances requiring prioritisation, this will be done by casting lots. The Admissions Team will arrange for this to be carried out by the LA's Democratic Services who are independent of the school and the admissions process.

Portsmouth's school directory page for this school gives its published admission number as 240. The page carries no academic year, so the figure is recorded against the live round only and not back-dated. The policy notes that within criterion 4 (catchment area), if oversubscribed, applicants are ranked using sub-criteria 5(i) to (v). The document also references a 'displaced sibling' provision where a school not in the child's catchment may be treated as the catchment school for subsequent sibling applications in certain circumstances.

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.