Nether Stowe 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 or previously looked after children — Looked after or previously looked after children (including previously looked after children from outside of England).
2. 2Medical or exceptional social circumstances / hardship — Children who satisfy both of the following tests: Test 1: the child is distinguished from the great majority of applicants either on their own medical grounds or by other exceptional circumstances. Medical grounds must be supported by a medical report (obtained by the applicant and provided at the point of application). This report must clearly justify, for health reasons only, why it is better for the child’s health to attend the academy rather than any other school. Exceptional circumstances must relate to the choice of school and the individual child, i.e. the circumstances of the child, not the economic or social circumstances of the parent/carer. It should be supported by a professional report (obtained by the applicant and provided at the point of application), e.g. social worker. This report must clearly justify why it is better for the child to attend the academy rather than any other school. Test 2: the child would suffer hardship if they were unable to attend the academy. Hardship means severe suffering of any kind, not merely difficulty or inconvenience, which is likely to be experienced as a result of the child attending a different school. Applicants must provide detailed information about both the type and severity of any likely hardship at the time of application.
3. 3Sibling already at the academy — Children with a brother or a sister already at the academy who will still be in attendance in September 2027. Siblings of sixth formers do NOT qualify for a sibling claim.
4. 4Children living within the catchment area — Children living within the catchment area of the academy
5. 5Children who live nearest the Academy

If two applications tie: In the event of an oversubscription in any of the above categories places will be allocated according to those that live closest Nether Stowe School calculated on the basis of a straight-line measurement between home and academy, whose circumstances remain unchanged on the day of admission. In a very small number of cases, if there is no other way of separating applications, the Local Authority will use a computerised system to randomly select the child to be offered the final place.

This document also lists a separate, differently-ordered set of criteria described as being for internal/non-external applicants (Looked after children; Sibling; Children who live nearest the Academy) without the medical/hardship or catchment criteria - only the 'Oversubscription Criteria for External Applicants' list (5 ranked criteria) is captured here as the full ordered list. Any child with a statement of special educational needs/Education Health and Care Plan naming the academy is admitted ahead of oversubscription criteria and is not itself an oversubscription criterion. Waiting lists are not fixed and are maintained until end of academic year; for years 9+ places offered only if subjects chosen are available. CATCHMENT: Children living within the catchment area of the academy Transcribed from the school's own determined admission arrangements as published by Staffordshire County Council. Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted first; that is a statutory duty, not an oversubscription criterion.

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.