The Birley Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2025-26 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1EHC plans naming the academy — All children whose education, health and care (EHC) plans name the academy will be admitted before any other places are allocated.
2. 2Looked-after children — Looked-after children are children who, at the time of making an application to a school, are: In the care of a local authority, or Being provided with accommodation by a local authority in exercise of its social services functions
3. 3Previously looked-after children — Previously looked-after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they: Were adopted under the Adoption Act 1976 or the Adoption and Children Act 2002, or Became subject to a child arrangements order, or Became subject to a special guardianship order. This includes children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and have ceased to be in state care due to being adopted.
4. 4Catchment Area with Sibling — Children who live in the catchment area at the latest date for receiving applications and who will have a sibling attending the preferred school in September 2025 will be prioritised above other catchment applicants.
5. 5Catchment Area — Children living in the catchment area for the preferred school that will not have a sibling attending, will be considered next. The Authority does prioritise catchment area residents, however places are not guaranteed.
6. 6Brothers or sisters (siblings) — Children who will have an older brother or sister (sibling) at the preferred school on the date of admission, will be offered a place if any places remain after all above categories have been allocated.
7. 7Designated feeder school — If your child attends a primary school which is officially designated as a feeder to a secondary school, but you live outside the catchment area, you will be offered a place after all above categories have been allocated.

If two applications tie: Where exceptional medical, social or special educational needs are demonstrated/supported by professional evidence, an application may be prioritised by the Admissions Committee (AC) but only within the admission category. If there are no exceptional circumstances, all applications will be prioritized first by the admission category and then by distance from the home address to a designated point at the school building. This is a straight-line measurement. In circumstances where two or more children live at addresses that are equidistant from the school the place will be allocated through the process of Random Allocation.

Twins and multiple births: In circumstances where there is one place remaining and the next eligible children are twins or multiple birth, the Local Authority may make an exception and allocate above the admission number. The Authority cannot guarantee that other siblings of multiple birth families will automatically follow if one is offered a place through normal arrangements. Pupils attending the academy's nursery will not transfer automatically into the academy; a separate application must be made for reception.

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.