Guidance on sharing admission arrangements

How should your school share information about admission arrangements on your website? 

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on gov.uk

Every local authority-maintained school must publish specific information on its website to comply with the School Information (England) Regulations (2008). When you are publishing your admission arrangements, the following information should be included.

For foundation schools and voluntary-aided schools

As the school’s governing body determines your admission arrangements you must publish them on your website by 15 March each year (as set out in the admissions code). You must keep them on your website for the whole of the offer year (the school year in which offers for places are made). The admissions arrangements must explain:

• how you’ll consider applications for each relevant age group at your school – this is the age group at which children are normally admitted to the school;
• what parents should do if they want to apply for their child to attend your school;
• your arrangements for selecting pupils who apply (if you are a selective school);
• your over-subscription criteria (how you offer places if there are more applicants than places available).

You must also set out how your school’s in-year applications will be dealt with by 31 August at the latest each year.

If the school’s governing body will manage in-year applications you must provide a suitable application form to enable parents to apply for an in-year place at your school; you must also provide a supplementary information form where necessary. If the school is to be a part of the local authority’s in-year co-ordination scheme, you must provide information on where parents can find details of the relevant scheme.

You must also publish a timetable for organising and hearing admission appeals for your school by 28 February each year. This must:

• include a deadline for lodging appeals which allows those making an appeal at least 20 school days from the date of notification that their application was unsuccessful to prepare and lodge their written appeal;
• include reasonable deadlines for:
  • those making an appeal to submit additional evidence;
  • admission authorities to submit their evidence;
  • the clerk to send appeal papers to the panel and parties.
• ensure that those making an appeal receive at least 10 school days’ notice of their appeal hearing;
• ensure that decision letters are sent within five school days of the hearing wherever possible.

For community schools and voluntary-controlled schools

As the local authority manages your admissions process, refer parents to the local authority to find out about your school’s admission and appeal arrangements.