Hampshire County Council Advice for UK service families

Hampshire County Council recognises the disadvantage experienced by UK service personnel as a result of the fact that they can be moved at short notice

Hampshire’s admission arrangements for service children are set in accordance with paragraph 2.18 of the School Admissions Code (December 2014).

The Children's Education Advisory Service (CEAS) provides a dedicated service for MOD and service families providing expert and impartial advice about the education of service children.

The Hampshire Admission Forum monitors outcomes for service families.

Families in Hampshire

Many Hampshire schools have extensive experience of service families and the needs of their children.

Areas of the county with a high proportion of service personnel include Gosport, Marchwood, Wallop, Odiham, Aldershot, Winchester, Fleet and Shipton Bellinger.

Evidence of relocation

For service families with official proof of a posting to Hampshire and a relocation date, a Unit postal address, quartering area address or future home address will be accepted as the address for the application.

Applying for a September place

If you are applying for your child to start school for the first time, transfer from infant to junior school or to start secondary school in September 2018 and are:   

Relocating to Hampshire from elsewhere in England

Relocating to Hampshire from overseas

Applying for an immediate place

If you are applying for an immediate school place (in-year application) you must:

• complete the in-year application form
• send a copy of the official MOD, FCO or GCHQ letter declaring your relocation date and future home address, unit postal address or quartering area address to the school

Further information about applying for a school place in-year.

Exceptional admissions

Sometimes it may be possible for a child of UK service personnel to be admitted to a school even when it is full. Admission authorities may admit a service child (outside the normal admissions round) over the legal infant class size limit of 30 pupils without the need for an additional teacher.

Hampshire's Fair Access Protocol also includes a category for children of UK service personnel. Children covered by the protocol may be admitted to a full school in year groups not governed by infant class size legislation.

In areas where there are many service children seeking places, an exception may not be possible. In deciding whether a service child can be admitted, the County Council must consider:

• the circumstances of both the child and the school
• the child's position on the waiting list
• whether there are other children on the list who may also be admitted on exceptional grounds
• whether there is a reasonable alternative school place available

https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/admissions/guidance/servicefamilies