Joseph Rowntree 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 — Pupils who are either currently or have previously been ‘looked after’. This applies to all children who are currently or have previously been, in the care of a local authority; all children who have been adopted from local authority care, subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order; and all children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of adoption, residence or special guardianship order; It is the responsibility of parent/carers, or the pupil’s social worker to provide the information to the admission authority that this criterion applies.
2. 2Catchment area with sibling — Pupils who live within the catchment area normally served by the preferred school, with a sibling at the preferred school at the time of admission. Catchment areas are designated by the Local Authority and are made available to parent/carers online at www.york.gov.uk, and upon request from the School Admissions team. Siblings are defined as brothers or sisters living in the same house, as their primary place of residence (including half-, step-and foster-brothers or sisters); The LA uses the address provided in the application, and using GIS software, determines which catchment area an address, and therefore a pupil, resides in. This address must be the address at which the pupil is ordinarily resident. Further detailed advice on addresses is contained within the Guide for Parents. It is the responsibility of parent/carers to include with their application the name of any sibling(s) where this criterion applies for checking by the LA.
3. 3Catchment area — Pupils who live within the catchment area normally served by the preferred school. Catchment areas are designated by the Local Authority and are made available to parent/carers online at www.york.gov.uk, and upon request from the School Admissions team; The LA uses the address provided in the application, and using GIS software, determines which catchment area an address, and therefore a CVC Year 7 Admissions Policy_ 2027 - 2028, p7 pupil, resides in. This address must be the address at which the pupil is ordinarily resident. Further detailed advice on addresses is contained within the Guide for Parents.
4. 4Exceptional social or medical needs — Pupils considered by the admission authority to have exceptional social or medical needs which makes the preferred school the most suitable school for the pupil. The admission authority may consult with other medical or educational professionals for a further opinion as to whether the pupil should be allocated a place at the preferred school due to a particular medical condition or social need. A medical condition alone does not guarantee ESM criteria. It is the responsibility of parent/carers to provide the additional information where they believe this criterion applies. To be given priority on this basis, the admission authority would have to be satisfied that the pupil’s needs were such that the preferred school would be the most suitable school for the pupil. Admissions officers defer these considerations and decisions to a panel of children’s services officers, in areas such as safeguarding and education social care. This ‘Exceptional Social and Medical (ESM) Panel’ considers any documentation provided by parent/carers and assesses whether these needs are ‘exceptional’ in nature. Admissions officers have no decision- making role in this process and only identify those applications to be considered by the ESM Panel and request further information from parent/carers. Those applications with supporting information that the ESM Panel determines are ‘exceptional’ would have to be where only the preferred school could meet the pupil’s need.
5. 5Sibling — Pupils with a sibling at the preferred school at the time of admission. Siblings are defined as brothers or sisters living in the same house, as their primary place of residence (including half-, step and foster-brothers or sisters); It is the responsibility of parent/carers to include with their application the name of any sibling(s) where this criterion applies for checking by the LA.
6. 6Distance from the school — Other applications for whom no previous criteria applies (previously called distance) where a pupil is eligible for Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium ordered from closest to furthest from school. Pupils who are eligible for Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium on 31st October 2026, ordered by who lives closest to the preferred school using CVC Year 7 Admissions Policy_ 2027 - 2028, p8 the nearest available safe walking route. In line with the City of York Council and York School and Academy Board’s (YSAB) commitment to Fair School Admissions, Pupil Premium and/or Service Pupil Premium eligible pupils will be ranked above those not eligible for Pupil Premium and/or Service Pupil Premium within a distance criteria. A pupil must be eligible for Pupil Premium and/or Service Pupil Premium on 31st October 2026 to meet this criteria. Eligibility on 31st October 2026 will be confirmed by the pupil’s current school. Any changes in eligibility after 31st October 2026 will not be considered. If eligibility confirmation is not received by 15th November 2026 the criteria will not be applied. - Late Year 7 Applications– applications received between 31st October 2026 and 31st December 2027 If a Year 7 application is received late, after the application deadline of 31 October, the Pupil Premium will only be applied at the time of application, if changes/applications can still be actioned at that time. This is dependent on whether applications are still being considered within the allocation process. If an application is received after National Offer Day (1st March or next working day) the criteria may be applied to the position on the waiting list. Eligibility must be confirmed by the current/previous school within 5 days of the application. If there is a change in circumstances this will not be amended or applied after the point of making a school application. - In Year Year 7 Applications – applications received after 31st December 2027 If an In Year Year 7 application is received the Pupil Premium will only be applied at the time of application. Eligibility must be confirmed at the time of application or within 5 days by the current/previous school. If there is a change in circumstances this will not be amended or applied after the point of making a school application. As defined in the School Admissions Code 2021, Pupil Premium is additional funding paid annually to schools under Section 14 of the Education Act 2002 for the purposes of supporting the attainment of disadvantaged children. Service premium is additional funding paid annually to schools under Section 14 of the Education Act 2002 for the CVC Year 7 Admissions Policy_ 2027 - 2028, p9 purposes of supporting the pastoral needs of the children of Armed Services personnel. Distances are measured by a GIS mapping system from the pupil’s home address to the closest entrance of the school. Distances are measured using a system of walking routes rather than straight line distances to better reflect the length of the journey from home to school. Within a contiguous urban area these routes are those that are properly paved and lit alongside roads and other walkways and do not include the York outer ring road. Outside a contiguous urban area, for example for applications from outside the City of York area, these distances continue to be measured along the road network. 7 Other applications for whom no previous criteria applies (previously called distance) where a pupil is not eligible for Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium ordered from closest to furthest from school. Distances are measured by a GIS mapping system from the pupil’s home address to the closest entrance of the school. Distances are measured using a system of walking routes rather than straight line distances to better reflect the length of the journey from home to school. Within a contiguous urban area these routes are those that are properly paved and lit alongside roads and other walkways and do not include the York outer ring road. Outside a contiguous urban area, for example for applications from outside the City of York area, these distances continue to be measured along the road network.

If two applications tie: Distance by the nearest available safe walking route, measured with a GIS mapping system.

City of York Council is the admission authority for its community and voluntary controlled schools. Every such school has a designated catchment area. York measures distance by the nearest available SAFE WALKING ROUTE, not in a straight line. Academies, voluntary aided and foundation schools set their own criteria.

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.