About this guidance

This is statutory guidance from the Department. This means that recipients must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to school admissions. 

The guidance covers determining admission arrangements, applications and offers, ensuring fairness and resolving issues, relevant legislation, sample admission arrangements and admissions timeline for admissions in the school year 2013/14. 

Expiry/review date

This guidance will next be reviewed in February 2013.

What legislation does this guidance relate to?

The School Admissions Code (‘the code’) has been issued under section 84 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (‘SSFA 1998’). The code has been made following a consultation under section 85(2) of the SSFA 1998 and after being laid before Parliament for forty days.

Who is this guidance for?

This guidance is for:

  • headteachers;
  • school advisers;
  • local authorities; and
  • key statutory agencies.

It applies to:

  • admission authorities of maintained schools as defined in Section 88(1) (a) and (b) of the SSFA 19982;
  • governing bodies and local authorities (when not admission authorities);
  • schools adjudicators; and
  • admission appeal panels.

Academies are required by their funding agreements to comply with the code and the law relating to admissions.

Key points

  • the purpose of the code is to ensure that all school places for maintained schools (excluding maintained special schools) and academies are allocated and offered in an open and fair way;
  • this code comes into force on 1 February 2012 and, unless otherwise stated, applies with immediate effect;
  • it will apply to admission arrangements determined in 2012 for admission in school year 2013/14; and
  • it should be read alongside the School Admission Appeals Code and other guidance and law that affect admissions and admission appeals in England.