Cheam High 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 — To those children designated as looked after children or previously looked after children. A previously 'looked after child' is a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. 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).
2. 2Exceptional circumstances (social welfare or medical grounds) — To those with exceptional circumstances i.e. social welfare reasons or medical grounds, which should be supported by written evidence from a doctor, educational social worker or educational welfare officer to demonstrate that Cheam High School is the only secondary school suitable for the student. A letter from your GP will not normally be sufficient medical evidence. It should be noted that all mainstream schools can support children with the more common medical illnesses or stress related symptoms. (Refugees and Asylum Seeking children may be included under this criterion, depending on individual circumstances.)
3. 3Siblings attending the school — To those with siblings attending the School at the time of allocation unless (1) the sibling is in Years 13/14 and expected to leave the School by September or (2) confirmation has been received that siblings will leave the school by September or the date of admission. (Sibling refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/carer's partner, and in every case, who is living as part of the same family unit at the same address, Monday to Friday).
4. 4Children of staff — To children of staff currently employed on permanent contract by Cheam High School where one (or more) of the following applies: The member of staff has been employed by Cheam High School on permanent contract for two or more consecutive years before the time of application for a school place; The member of staff has been recruited to fill a post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
5. 5Proximity to the school (straight line) — To children on the basis of proximity to the school, as the crow flies, of the home where they reside (measured from the highway of the Chatsworth Road entrance) with those living nearer the school being given the higher priority. Distances will be measured in a straight line from the child's home address using the GIS system maintained by Sutton's School Admissions team.
6. 6Worcester Park places (within 1.1 km of Dorchester Primary School) — Up to 30 places to be allocated to children who live within 1.1 km from Dorchester Primary School, Worcester Park, with those living nearer Dorchester Primary School, Worcester Park, being given the higher priority. (Distance from the school of the home is measured from the main highway entrance to Dorchester Primary as the crow flies.) In the event of places remaining unfilled, these will be allocated according to criteria 1 – 5.

If two applications tie: Please note that in instances where two or more applicants share priority for a place eg where two children live equidistant from a school and when there is only one place remaining, the rank order will be determined by drawing lots. This will be done in the presence of three from the following list: Headteacher, Clerk to the Governors, Members of the Governing Body Admissions Committee.

Places for September Year 7 entry to be allocated so that the total number allocated under criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, including any children with Education, Health and Care Plans offered places, is no more than 290 unless further spaces are released as described in criterion 6. Criteria 6 only applies to September Year 7 entry, and will not apply after the end of December in the year of admission. Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan that names the school will be allocated a place before other applicants are considered. In this way, the number of places to be offered, as set out below, will be reduced by the number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans that have named the school. The school has 320 places available in Year 7.

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.