Ysgol y Ddraig

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Reception), 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 — Children where evidence has been supplied to confirm that they are looked after or have been previously looked after in accordance with Section 22 of the Children Act 1989.
2. 2Permanently resident in the designated catchment area — Children who are currently permanently resident within the designated catchment area of the school on or before the published closing date for receipt of preference forms. Evidence of permanent residence of a child must be supplied if requested. In the event of over-subscription by applicants from this category alone criteria (4), (5) and (6), in order of priority, would be applied to produce an order of preference.
3. 3Taking up residence in the catchment area before term starts — Children not currently permanently resident within the designated catchment area of the school whose parents have satisfied the Council, on or before the published closing date for receipt of preference forms, that the child will be taking up residence within the catchment area by the commencement of the school term to which the application relates. In the event of over-subscription by applicants from this category alone criteria (4), (5) and (6), in order of priority, would be applied.
4. 4Compelling medical or social grounds — Children in respect of whom the Council judges that there are compelling medical or social grounds for their admission to a specified primary school i.e. those children recommended for placement at a named school with regard to medical, psychological or special education reasons. (Written recommendations from the appropriate external agencies or professional advisers will be required in such cases.)
5. 5Sibling at the school in Reception to Year 6 — Children who have a brother or sister in attendance at the school in Reception to Year 6 during the academic year in which the child is to be admitted. In the event of over-subscription by applicants from this category alone, the Council will determine priority and allocate places by reference to the age of the pupil's youngest sibling in the school, the youngest commanding the highest degree of priority.
6. 6Proximity to the school — In determining applications for admission in respect of other pupils the Council gives regard to the proximity of the pupil's home to the primary school as measured by the shortest available walking route, those living nearest will have priority. The Council uses a Geographical Information System.

If two applications tie: Criteria 2 and 3 are resolved by applying criteria 4, 5 and 6 in order within the category. Within the sibling criterion, priority is determined by the age of the pupil's YOUNGEST sibling at the school, the youngest commanding the highest degree of priority. Proximity is measured by the shortest available walking route on the Council's Geographical Information System.

NOTE THE STRUCTURE — the Vale's catchment criteria (2 and 3) are not resolved by distance alone: where a school is oversubscribed by in-catchment applicants, the council applies criteria 4, 5 and 6 IN ORDER within that category, so a compelling medical or social case outranks a sibling, which outranks distance. NOTE ALSO THE SIBLING TIE-BREAK, which is unusual: priority goes by the age of the YOUNGEST sibling already at the school, the youngest commanding the highest priority. Children with an Individual Development Plan naming the school are admitted BEFORE the oversubscription criteria are applied.

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.