The Priory School is an oversubscribed 11-18 co-educational school which serves its local community. Hertfordshire Local Authority manages the transfer and entry to The Priory School. For details of both regular and in year admissions, please see the information below and follow the links.
For further information contact Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Children’s Services on 0300 123 4043.
Open Evening 2020 – Thursday 8th October
This year’s school Open Evening and Open Morning Tours are having to be modified in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the implications on schools. The Priory School Open Evening is calendered for Thursday 8th October, but unfortunately we will not be able to welcome any prospective students or their families on site on this day. The same is true of all other schools in the local area.
We are acutely aware that the opportunity to visit secondary schools, prior to applications and beginning the next stage of a child’s education, is very important to many young people and their parents. Families will want to assess the vibe and culture of a school, talk about the provision and wider opportunities available and of course meet staff and current students to discuss all manner of things. Clearly, to replicate the Open Evening and Open Morning Tour events, in any way other than inviting you to see us, will be a great challenge.
However, we are determined to provide a good insight into life here and we plan to have a range of digital offerings for families to dip into. For the time being, please take this opportunity to view our 360 Tour in which you can navigate around the school site, see pictures and video clips and find out information about a range of aspects of school life at The Priory. Please keep an eye out on this webpage for further information about how our Virtual Open Evening will run on 8th October and how you can get involved.
Secondary Transfers for September 2020
The school participates in the HCC co-ordinated scheme for admissions. All deadlines within this scheme must be adhered to by applicants. HCC will make offers of places on behalf of the school.
Further information is available at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions, including the rules for admission. On-time applications close on 31 October 2020.
Secondary allocation day is Monday 1st March 2021. If you applied online you will receive an email from HCC on this date. If you applied on paper then you will receive a letter in the post.
Accepting your place: if you are allocated The Priory School and wish to accept your place then you must do this either online or on the paper form provided by Monday 15th March 2021. Responses go directly to HCC and do not come back to the school. Continued interest: if you are not allocated The Priory School and it was ranked higher than the school you have been allocated then you will automatically be added to the continued interest list.
If you do not want to stay on this list then you must let the HCC Children’s Services team know immediately.
The Priory School Year 7 Transition Centre
In Year Admissions
All local authorities have a statutory duty to coordinate all in year admissions (primary and secondary) for all maintained schools and academies. This means that all applications for, and allocations of, in year places must be made via a child’s home local authority. All parents living in Hertfordshire who wish to make an in year application must apply online to HCC at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions and not by applying direct to schools. A paper application form can be requested from the Children Schools and Families Customer Service Centre, 0300 123 4043.
Appeals
At transfer time, parents wishing to appeal who applied online should log into their online application and click on the link ‘register an appeal’. For those who did not apply online, please contact the Children Schools and Families Customer Service Centre on 0300 123 4043 to request an appeal pack.
Further information on the appeals process is available at:
The Determined Admission Arrangements for 2020-2021 were reviewed and approved by the Governing Board. Any person or body who considers that any maintained school or academy’s arrangements are unlawful, or not in compliance with the Code or relevant law relating to admissions, can make an objection to the Schools Adjudicator. Any objector must provide their name and address to the Adjudicator when an objection is made.
Sixth Form Admissions
Our Sixth Form Open Evening for students wishing to join us in September 2021 will be held on 22nd October 2020 (tbc). For more information please visit this page: https://www.priory.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Hitchin_Schools_Prospectus_2018-2020.pdf.