Education and Child Matters

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School Admissions

 

Parents have 3 options available to educate their children. They are:

  1. They can home school their child
  2. They can send their children to a state funded school.
  3. They can send their child to a private fee paying school.

If a parent chooses option 2 or 3 above they must apply to the school (the education establishment) for admission and to enrol their child in the school. This webpage will show you how to do that. 

If you would like information on home schooling we have a webpage on the topic elsewhere on this website. Please click the link below.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR ELECTIVE HOME EDUCATION (HOME SCHOOLING)

WHAT IS A SCHOOLS ADMISSION POLICY?

All education establishments including schools in the UK have an admissions policy which details the criteria they have set for deciding which children will be enrolled into the school. These admissions criteria can be set by the school itself or by the local authority. A schools admissions policy should be available to view on their website.

The school’s admission policy will contain a lot of information. Some of the information could be:

  1. The net capacity of a school – This is  the total number of students a school can enrol to study at the school 
  2. The oversubscription criteria – A school’s oversubscription criteria is the policy they have to help them prioritise excess applications and choose which application to accept and which to reject.  
  3. The age range of the pupils at the school
  4. The published admission number (PAN) – A pan number is the number of students a school will intake/enrol in certain relevant year groups. They are year 7, year 12 (if a school has a sixth form) and reception.
  5. Late applications
  6. Waiting lists
  7. Entrance criteria 

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF ADMISSION CRITERIA?

The admissions criteria for most schools are things such as:

  1. The child and their family must live within a certain distance from the school. This is called the catchment area.
  2. The child may be required to have attended certain ‘feeder’ schools before attending the school. A feeder school is the school the child will have attended before applying to the school.
  3. A child may be given priority if they have a sibling already enrolled in the school. 
  4. If the school is a faith school then priority may be given to children of that faith. 
  5. Children may need to pass an entrance exam or have a certain level of attainment before the school will consider their application for admission.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS CODE?

The government has produced a guide for schools called the ‘schools admissions code’ which gives guidance and information that schools should follow regarding student admissions. 

The code gives guidance on admission timelines, admission rounds, admissions outside the normal round of admissions, fairness of admissions, and issues concerning admissions. 

This code came into force on 01-09-2021 and applies to all maintained primary and secondary schools, academies, sixth forms attached to maintained schools and free schools.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF UK EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS CODE

HOW TO GET ADMISSION TO A STATE OR PRIVATE PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP OR PRE-SCHOOL NURSERY 

Pre-school playgroup or pre-school nursery education is not compulsory in the UK. It is up to you depending upon your circumstances. You can send your child to a state or private nursery or playgroup. The information you need about playgroups and nurseries will be on your local authority website.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY.

Your local authority website will detail the following:

  1. They will have a list of all playgroups in the area
  2. They will have a list of all state and private nurseries in the area
  3. They will have downloadable state nursery application forms to complete. 
  4. They will detail when the applications will open and list the deadline dates to submit your application.
  5. They will also have brochures giving important information about age criteria, free eligibility, and much more. 

For admission to all playgroups and state nurseries – You must email, post or deliver your completed application form directly to the nursery or playgroup. If you would like to apply to more than one nursery you must use a separate application form for each nursery. 

For admission to a private nursery – You will have to visit their website, download their application form and follow their admissions procedure. Some may offer the facility to apply online.

You local authority website will give you details about any entitlements you may be eligible for such as:

1. 15 hours of free childcare and early learning for 2 year olds – You can be eligible for this if you are on a low income or on certain benefits. You can apply for this via your local authority website, they will list the eligibility criteria, have the forms online and a step by step guide on how to complete the form. You may need to create an account on the website. Please click on the link below to find your local authority website.

2. 15 hours of free childcare for all 3 & 4 year olds – All parents are entitled to 15 hours per week free childcare for 3 – 4 year olds. It must be with an approved childcare provider and will stop once your child starts reception. You can apply for this via your local authority website, they will list the eligibility criteria, have the forms online and a step by step guide on how to complete the form. You may need to create an account on the website. Please click on the link below to find your local authority website.

3. Extra 15 hours of free childcare for all 3 & 4 year olds –  For parents on certain benefits and low income they can get an extra 15 hours of free childcare per week on top of the 15 hours started in 2 above. You can apply for this via your local authority website, they will list the eligibility criteria, have the forms online and a step by step guide on how to complete the form. You may need to create an account on the website. Please click on the link below to find your local authority website.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR 30 HOURS FREE CHILDCARE (INFORMATION)

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR APPLY FOR 30 HOURS FREE CHILDCARE 

From the playgroup or nursery your child will move to reception when they are 4 years of age or to primary school year 1 when they are 5 years of age.   

HOW TO GET ADMISSION TO A STATE OR PRIVATE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 

Primary and secondary education is compulsory in the UK for children aged between 5 years and 16 years. You can send your child to a state or private primary and secondary school. The information you need about primary and secondary schools will be on your local authority website.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY.

Your local authority website will detail the following:

  1. They will have a list of all state and private primary schools in the area
  2. They will have a list of all state and private secondary schools in the area
  3. They will have downloadable state primary and secondary school application forms to complete. 
  4. They will detail when the applications will open and list the deadline dates to submit your application.
  5. They will also have brochures giving important information about age criteria, free eligibility, and much more. 

For admission to a state primary and secondary school – You can make an application for your child using your local authority website. Under section 86 of the schools standards and framework act 1998, your local authority will have a common application form (CAF) on their website which will allow you to choose a place for your child at 3 schools of your choice. You must rank these schools as your first choice, second choice and third choice. You can state your reasons for these choices on the form. 

You can list a state school on your form even if it is not in your local authority area. Your local authority will also detail admissions criteria for all the schools in the area. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 86 OF THE SCHOOL STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORK ACT 1998 

Applications for a state primary school place must be submitted by the latest 15th January and applications for a state secondary school place must be submitted by the latest 31st October. 

Your local authority will inform you by letter and/or email of an offer for a primary school place on 16th April after your application and on 01st March for a secondary school place. These dates are referred to as national offer days. The letter/email informing you of this place will have a deadline by which you must notify them that you accept the place. You must do this otherwise you will lose your place. 

If the local authority letter informs you that you did not get your first choice place then you can appeal this decision. How to appeal this decision is outlined later on this webpage.  

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND AND CHECK THE PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES IN ENGLAND

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO APPLY FOR A PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACE

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO APPLY FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACE

For admission to a private primary and secondary school –  You will have to visit their website, download their application form and follow their admissions procedure. Some may offer the facility to apply online.

Where you can find further information about the primary or secondary school you are interested in – 

  1. Visit the school website. The website will contain information about admissions, applications, the curriculum, ofsted reports, policies, exam progresses and achievements, the amount of pupil premium the school receives and details of teachers and subjects taught.
  2. You should visit the primary or secondary school or ask for a tour. They may have open days you can attend.
  3. Every school will have Ofsted reports or other inspection reports available online. You can download and read them or alternatively click on the link below.

LINK TO OFSTED WEBSITE FOR FIND AN INSPECTION REPORT

  1. You can talk to other parents whose children attend the school.
  2. You can look up the school’s ranking in school performance tables.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE TABLES.

Do primary and secondary schools have waiting lists?

Yes they do. If your child does not get a place at the school of their first choice then you can add their name to the school’s waiting list. You can contact the school and ask them to do this or ask your local authority and they will. 

If you are offered a place at a school where your child has been on a waiting list you will get a formal offer from the local authority and you will have to accept it by the deadline stated in the offer. If your child has started another school you can still accept the offer from another school and move your child. 

HOW TO GET ADMISSION TO A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS SCHOOL.

If your child is at a state mainstream school or nursery and you feel your child has special educational needs, speak to the school and explain your concerns. The school will help and if need be along with your local authority find a place at a special educational needs school more suitable for your child. 

The local authority will first carry out an education, health and care needs assessment for your child and then recommend a suitable special educational needs school for your child.

If your child is NOT at a state maintained school or nursery then you must contact your local authority first and inform them of your concerns that your child has special educational needs. The local authority will first carry out an education, health and care needs assessment for your child and then recommend a suitable special educational needs school for your child.

If you would like to know about all the special educational needs schools in the area, they will be listed on your local authority website. There will be a section about children with special educational needs. 

  1. They will have a complete list of all schools available to your child.
  2. They will have downloadable application forms to complete or information about the school so you can contact them directly to make an application.  
  3. They will detail when the applications will open and list the deadline dates to submit your application.
  4. They will also have brochures giving important information about age criteria, free eligibility, and much more. 

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS & DISABILITIES.

HOW TO GET ADMISSION TO A COLLEGE

Your local authority website will detail the following:

  1. They will have a list of all colleges in the area
  2. They will have downloadable application forms to complete or information about the college so you can contact them directly to make an application.
  1. They will detail when the applications will open and list the deadline dates to submit your application.
  2. They will also have brochures giving important information about age criteria, free eligibility, and much more. (not sure what order the numbers should be in this list)

You must email, post or deliver your completed application form directly to the college if the local authority website states this.

HOW TO GET ADMISSION TO A UK UNIVERSITY 

For admissions to UK universities please click the link below.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

WHAT IS A LATE APPLICATION?

A late application is one that was not considered before the school made an offer and one that was submitted after the final submission date but before the first day of the academic term. 

WHAT IS AN IN YEAR APPLICATION?

An in year application is one the school receives once the school term has started. Your local authority will inform you how to do this and will help you.

WHAT IS AN OUT OF AGE COHORT CHILD (SUMMER BORN)?

An out of age cohort child or a summer born child is one that becomes the right age for the year group just after the date when the year ends.  

An example of this is when a child reaches the right age for admission into a class in year 7 on 31st August but they will be admitted into a year 6 class.

WHAT IS FAIR ACCESS?

All local authorities in the UK should have a fair access policy to make sure that all children in the borough are offered a free state school place that is appropriate for them. This is especially important for looked after children (children in care), previously looked after children, children with special educational needs, disabilities and medical needs. 

State schools will often prioritise admission for these children. 

WHAT IS A MANAGED MOVE?

A managed move is the transfer of a child from one school to another which has been agreed between both schools, the child and the parents so that the child is not expelled or permanently excluded from the school they are being moved from. 

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR SCHOOL EXCLUSIONS, SUSPENSIONS, OFF ROLLING AND MANAGED MOVES.

WHAT IS EADMISSIONS.ORG.UK?

This is a website for all parents living in the 33 London local authorities and Surrey local authority where they can find details and information of state maintained schools. They will also have access to application forms for admissions. 

WHAT IS A PUBLISHED ADMISSIONS NUMBER (PAN)?

A pan number is the number of students a school will intake/enrol in certain relevant years groups. They are:

  1. Year 7
  2. Year 12 (if a school has a sixth form)
  3. Reception

A pan number must be written in the schools admissions policy on their website. This number is agreed with the school’s local authority.

WHAT IS A NATIONAL OFFER DAY?

A national offer day is the date when the local authority informs parents if their child’s admission application for a primary or secondary school place has been successful or has been refused.

Your local authority will inform you by letter and/or email of an offer for a primary school place on the 16th April after your application and on 1st March for a secondary school place. 

CAN YOU APPEAL IF A LOCAL AUTHORITY OR SCHOOL REFUSES YOUR CHILD’S FIRST CHOICE IN YOUR ADMISSION APPLICATION?

Yes you can. You can only appeal once. 

Under section 94 of the school standards and framework act 1998 your local authority must make provisions for parents to appeal decisions where an admissions application first choice school has been refused. A parent can appeal to an independent admissions appeal panel. A parent can appeal a decision even if their child has accepted a place at another school which was their second or third choice. 

The local authority letter must explain why your first choice was refused and must detail the reasons why, how a parent can appeal this decision, the timescales within which to appeal and the contact details of where to appeal and who to. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 94 OF THE SCHOOL STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORK ACT 1998

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR APPEALING A SCHOOLS DECISION 

Please note it is advisable to accept the offer of a school place at your second or third choice of school while you appeal the refusal of admission to your first choice of school.

WHO CAN YOU COMPLAIN TO IF YOU FEEL A SCHOOL HAS AN UNFAIR ADMISSIONS POLICY?

If you feel a school has an unfair admissions policy you can complain to a schools adjudicator. You must prove the school did not comply with the school’s admission code.

The only thing is that you have to complain by the 15th of May of the year before the admission date of your child. If your child is enrolling into a school in September 2019 the complaint has to be in by 15th May 2018.

Please find below the link to the application form.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR OBJECTION TO SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS ARRANGEMENTS.

CAN YOUR CHILD START YEAR 1 PRIMARY SCHOOL A LITTLE LATER THAN THAT REQUIRED BY LAW?

The legal age of a child in compulsory UK education is from 5 years to 16 years of age. 

A child aged 5 is required by law to start school at the start of the school term after their fifth birthday.

If a child turns 5 years between 1st April and 31st August they will start school in the autumn term.

If a child turns 5 between 1st September and 31st December they start school in the winter term. 

If a child turns 5 years between 1st January and 31st March they will start school in the summer term.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR SCHOOL DAYS, TERMS, HOLIDAYS AND INSET DAYS

If you feel your child once they have turned 5 years of age is not ready to start full time year 1 primary school you can contact the school or your local authority and express your concerns. They may:

  1. Allow your child to start at a later date.
  2. Allow your child to start part time
  3. Allow your child to continue reception or join reception. 

However, there is no guarantee this will be allowed. 

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT INFANT CLASS SIZE?

Under section 1 of the school standards and framework act 1998 all reception, year 1 and year 2 classes have a top limit of 30 students. Further students will be refused admittance because of infant class size prejudice. 

Only in very exceptional circumstances can another student be added. Some exceptional circumstances are:

  1. A child with special educational needs who attends some classes at the school.
  2. A child of a UK service personnel
  3. A child whose parent has won an independent admissions appeal
  4. A looked after child
  5. A previously looked after child

If your child has been refused a primary school place because of infant class size prejudice you can appeal this decision as explained above. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 1 OF THE SCHOOL STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORK ACT 1998

WHAT IS OVERSUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA?

Many schools have long waiting lists and are over subscribed. This means they have more admission applications than there are actual student places at the school. A school’s oversubscription criteria is the policy they have to help them prioritise excess applications and choose which application to accept and which to reject.  

Oversubscription criteria differs for each school. Some criteria could be:

  1. Children in the surrounding catchment area may be prioritised
  2. Local feeder school attendance
  3. Prioritising children who have a sibling at the school

WHAT IS THE NET CAPACITY OF A SCHOOL?

The net capacity of a school is the total number of students a school can enrol to study at the school .