Community schools admission criteria

The following schools use the community schools admission criteria:

• Catford High School  
• Deptford Green School
• Forest Hill School
• Prendergast-Ladywell Fields College
• Sedgehill School
• Sydenham School

Lewisham’s community schools operate the authority’s banding system.

The admissions criteria

In the event of one of these schools being over-subscribed (having more applicants than places available) priority within each band of ability will be given in the following order to:

1. Children in public care (details must be supplied by the allocated social worker or foster carer). A looked after child is a child who is in care to a local authority or who is provided with accommodation by that authority.
2. In exceptional circumstances, children who have a personal or family acute medical or social need for that particular school and who would not otherwise qualify for admission. The application must be supported by a letter from a hospital consultant, social worker or similar professional, setting out the reasons why the school is the only one to meet the child’s needs. The admission decision will be considered in consultation with a sub group of the Admissions Forum, teaching professionals and medical professionals. Medical professionals provide advice on applications made under medical conditions and teaching professionals advise on applications made for social or special reasons. Supporting evidence must be provided before the closing date for applications.
3. Applicants whose brother or sister is on roll of the school on the closing date. If the school is over-subscribed entirely with siblings, priority will be given to those living nearest and to those with exceptional social and medical need. Siblings include all blood siblings, adoptive siblings, half-siblings, foster siblings and step-siblings. Siblings must all live at the same address as the child. Proof of the sibling relationship may be required. Hillsyde – children whose older brother or sister is on roll in Year 11 and 12 of the same school will qualify for sibling priority. Crossways Academy – children attending Crossways Academy or Year 11 of their secondary school are not given sibling priority. Crossways Academy – children attending Crossways Academy or Year 11 of their secondary school are not not given sibling priority.
4. Applicants who live nearest to the school. All distances will be measured in a straight line, using digitised mapping software or Ordnance Survey maps of the area, from the home to the main school entrance. Proof of permanent home address may be required and will include current council tax statements, utilities bills, residence orders or other court orders. In some circumstances Lewisham will rely on other information held or accessed by the council to confirm permanent home address.