Blackthorn Primary School

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 children and all previously looked after children
2. 2Siblings
3. 3Children of school staff
4. 4Children who live nearer to the school than any other publicly funded state school with an equivalent year group
5. 5Other children

If two applications tie: When the PAN is reached in a criterion, all children in that criterion are ranked according to the distance they live from the school. Priority is given to those who live closest to the school. Distances are measured from the address point of your home to the address point of the school on a straight-line basis, using a Geographical Information System. If two or more applications cannot otherwise be separated and there is only one place available, a random allocation process will be used to determine who should be allocated the place. This process will be carried out by someone

Siblings A sibling is a child’s brother or sister. The sibling must be attending the school at the time of application and be likely to remain in the school at the proposed date of admission. A sibling must be living at the same permanent address and as part of the same family unit (one or two parents plus children) to qualify under this criterion. For school admissions purposes, the term sibling includes: • Half-brothers and half-sisters • Stepbrothers and stepsisters • Adopted children • Children in foster care • Children living in the same family unit, even if they are not biological brothers or sisters – for example when the parents are not married/in a civil relationship. Cousins are not regarded as siblings Children of school staff The school will give priority in their oversubscription criteria to children* of staff (both teaching and non-teaching, full and part-time, permanent staff members) in either or both of the following circumstances: a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, and/or b) the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. *a child living at the same address as the staff member (within a family unit, even if they are not biological children – for example when the parents are not married/in a civil relationship) including adopted children, stepchildren, and children in foster care.

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.