School Admissions Determination 2024-2025

All schools must have admission arrangements that clearly set out how children will be admitted, including the criteria that will be applied if there are more applications than places at the school. Admission arrangements are determined by admission authorities.

Admission authorities must set (‘determine’) admission arrangements annually. Where changes are proposed to admission arrangements, the admission authority must first publicly consult on those arrangements. If no changes are made to admission arrangements, they must be consulted on at least once every 7 years.

Paragraph 1.47 and 1.48 of the Admissions Code 2021 state: -

1.47 Admission authorities must consult with:

1. parents of children between the ages of two and eighteen;
2. other persons in the relevant area who in the opinion of the admission authority have an interest in the proposed admissions;
3. all other admission authorities within the relevant area (except that primary schools need not consult secondary schools);
4. whichever of the governing body and the local authority is not the admission authority;
5. any adjoining neighbouring local authorities where the admission authority is the local authority; and
6. in the case of schools designated with a religious character, the body or person representing the religion or religious denomination

1.48 For the duration of the consultation period, the admission authority must publish a copy of their full proposed admission arrangements (including the proposed PAN) on the school’s website or its own website (in the case of a local authority) together with details of where comments may be sent and the areas on which comments are not sought. Admission authorities must also send, upon request, a copy of the proposed admission arrangements to any of the persons or bodies listed above inviting comment. Failure to consult effectively may be grounds for subsequent complaints and appeals.

• For Local Authority maintained schools the LA is the Admissions Authority
• For Academies the Governing Body/Academy Trust is the Admissions Authority
• For Church of England and Catholic Schools the Admissions Authority is the relevant Diocese/Academy Trust where the school has converted to Academy status.

In line with the above this item gives governors the opportunity to consider the admission arrangements (criteria and admission number), which will apply for admission in 2024/25. The Local Admission Forum has previously considered the requirements for consultation in relation to maintained schools and has agreed that the LA should facilitate this, as far as possible, by use of the Authority’s Internet site.  This consultation also allows own admission authority schools the opportunity to engage with the wider stakeholder process.

The timetable for the year is:-

• Autumn Term 2022 - Governing bodies consider the arrangements which will apply and publish proposed arrangements on their websites.
• By 18th November 2022 - All relevant details to be forwarded to the LA.
• 5th December – 20th January 2023  - Period of wider consultation via the LA’s website. 
• By mid-February 2023 - LA and the Local Admission Forum consider any changes and forward any comments to appropriate Admission Authority (ies).
• By 17th February 2023- All admission authorities to determine their arrangements and notify those consulted and publish final arrangements on their websites.

Community and Controlled Schools – LA Maintained Schools

For these schools, the LA is the admission authority. The admissions criteria for 2024/25 are shown at Appendix 1.

There are no proposed changes to the admission criteria for 2024/25.

Each school’s proposed admission number is shown at Appendix 2.

Voluntary Aided Schools/Academies/Trust Schools

The governing body/Academy Trust is the admission authority. Full consultation is required.

If there are any proposed changes at Church of England schools, Governing Bodies should consult their Diocesan Board before consulting anyone else.

Pro-forma to be completed and returned as for community and controlled schools.

Further General Points

All infant, J&I and Primary schools need to continue to be mindful of the need to maintain classes from FS2 to Y2 at 30 or less, with the exception of excepted pupils as stipulated under the Admissions Code 2021.

If you require any further information or would wish to discuss any matters relating to admission numbers/criteria/net capacity, please contact Chris Stones on 01709 254831.