School Admissions
During November and December each year the school holds Open Days for parents of pre-school children. This is an opportunity for parents to look round the school, hear about our ethos and ask questions, before making an online application to the Local Authority.
Following confirmation of places for admission in April, parents are invited to meetings in the summer term, giving the children an opportunity to spend either a morning or an afternoon in school before they start officially in September. The Local Authority (LA) is responsible for the admission arrangements of Community Schools and Priory Infant School is classed as a co-educational Community School. Kent Local Authority provides information online at www.kent.gov.uk/ola
Children are admitted on the following basis (Admission Criteria), after parental choice has been considered:
- Children with EHCP Education and Health Care Plan (naming Priory Infant School)
- Children in Local Authority Care (or who have been adopted from LA care) including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
- Current family association (A brother or sister in the school at the time of entry, where the family continues to live at the same address as when the sibling was admitted or has moved to a new property within two miles of the school)
- Health and Special Access reasons (Children who for reasons of health or physical impairment need to attend a particular school)
- Nearness of children’s homes.
Further information regarding admissions can be found in our Admissions Policy.
Appeals
If your child is due to start Primary school in September 2025, you can appeal if you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer Day (Wednesday, 16 April 2025).
You need to submit your appeal before Tuesday, 20th May 2025 for it to be considered by Friday, 18th July 2025. Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 school days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education.