Arrangements for admissions to schools in September 2012

The specifications, processes and guidance for the electronic transfer of data to enable implementation of coordinated admissions, are available to download from this page.

Documents available for download include

  • revised guidance notes for the 8 series files that bring together in one place the various documents and clarifications issued over the last three years and hold all of the information concerning the use and specification of these files
  • a separate document detailing major changes included in the series 8 files
  • example files and xml schema for admissions message files
  • advice and guidance on statutory reports
  • other information relevant to the coordination of admissions in England

The percentages of parents obtaining a preferred secondary school, March 2012

(As required by the Provision of Education (England) Regulations 2008.)

You can now download notes on the specification and technical definition of the file to be sent to the Department on percentages of parents obtaining a preferred secondary school in March 2012. Guidance from the Department (including frequently asked questions and how to provide the data via a web form) will be available early in 2012.

ATF schema: new version published November 2011

As a result of a change in the definition of the <Country> field in CTF 11 and the move of the <FSMhistory> container out of the <BasicDetails> container in ATF 8 a new schema has been produced. This replaces all previous versions.

The  revised XSD for ATF version 8.1 for use in the 2011/2012 admissions round for offers to pupils starting school in September 2012 is available. The following items are available: 

  • ATF 8.1 xsd
  • CTF 11 includes (these must accompany the above)
  • ATF 8.1 example file
  • ATF 8.1 validated xml example file
  • Updated changes log

Admissions schema (not including ATF)

XSD schema files for admissions transfer files (APT, ADT, AOT, ASL and ALT) version 8.1 for use in the 2011/12 admissions round are now available. The following items can be downloaded from this page:

  • XSD schema and includes (XSD file types) that support the 8.1 series specification and a readme file to accompany the schema. Note: these XSD files must be stored in a separate folder from those used in earlier years as some of the files have the same names but contain different definitions
  • example files that accompany the schema. These are for admissions transfer files (APT, ADT, AOT, ASL and ALT) version 8.1 for use in the 2011/12 admissions round (resulting in admissions to schools from September 2012 and in year admissions during the academic year 2011)
  • supporting documentation
  • a changes log