Admission of Pupils to School

The Governors of Gatcombe Park Primary School have adopted Portsmouth City Council's policy on admissions arrangements. These are as follows:-

If the school is over subscribed, first preference applications will be considered first according to the following priorities in the order set out below:-

1) Children with a Statement of Special Educational Need where the school is named in the final statement.

2) Children who are looked after by a local authority (i.e. in their care or provided with accommodation by the authority for a continuous period of more than 24 hours) and have applied to their catchment area school. If an application has not been made to the catchment area school relevant evidence must be attached to support the application including a letter from the linked Social Worker clearly stating why the school is the most appropriate for the child.

3) Children whose parents have a religious and philosophical conviction for attending the school. Relevant evidence must be attached to support your application including a letter of support from your religious leader. Your evidence must clearly state why the school is the most appropriate for your child and reasons why other schools in the city are inappropriate.

4) Children living within the school's designated catchment area. If the school cannot admit all applications from the catchment area, priorities 5 (i) to (iii) will be used.

5) Children living outside the school's catchment area in the following priority order:-

i. Children who have a significant medical, physical or psychological condition. Evidence must be attached and be supported by written evidence from the professional person involved stating clearly why your preferred school is the most appropriate for your child and reasons why other schools in the city are inappropriate.

ii. Children who have a brother or sister (living within the same household) already on roll and who will still be attending the school the following year.
Note - This category does include step-brothers/step-sisters, adoptive brothers/sisters living within the same household or children whose parents are married or cohabiting and live together within the same household.

iii. Children who live closest to the school, based on the shortest distance from home to school, measured 'as the crow flies'. (this distance will be used where necessary to prioritise applications within the above categories).

6) Second preference applications will be prioritised next using the priority order set out above.

Further information on admissions may be obtained from the school office.