Parents need access to good quality information so they can make informed choices and to make schools accountable. From September 2012 regulations will no longer require schools to publish a prospectus or have a curriculum policy, thus avoiding duplication of effort, and unnecessary cost. Instead, schools will be required to publish key information online. This will be: the school’s Pupil Premium allocation, its use and impact on attainment; its curriculum by year and by subject; its admission arrangements; its policies on behaviour, charging, and SEN and disability; links to Ofsted reports; and details of, and links to, performance data.

In order to provide parents with the information they need at the right time, maintained schools, and academies and Free Schools will be required to publish the following details online:

  • Pupil Premium allocation, use and impact on attainment
  • curriculum provision, content and approach, by academic year and by subject
  • admission arrangements
  • the school's policy in relation to behaviour, charging, and SEN and disability provision
  • links to Ofsted reports and to the Department’s achievement and attainment performance data; and details of thee school’s latest Key Stage 2 and 4 attainment and progress measures.

Most schools already make much of this information available online and will only need to ensure that all the areas are covered and details are up to date. Schools that are not, will need to make arrangements to go online. 

Academies and Free Schools are required to provide much of this information through their funding agreements or the Independent Schools Regulations. The new model funding agreement will require academies and Free Schools to publish the same information as maintained schools.

Local authorities will continue to have a duty to ensure that parents receive the support they need to work through the admissions process. These changes to the School Information Regulations will not change the duty for local authorities to produce a composite prospectus every year, or for schools to supply required information in a way that is easy to understand.

Following a national consultation the Department has published a revised School Admissions and Appeals Code, to remove duplication and over-prescription and make it simpler, fairer and more transparent.

The Codes came into force on 1 February 2012. The provisions in the School Admissions Code take full affect on admissions arrangements being locally determined for the pupil intake of the 2013/14 academic year and thereafter. However, all appeals lodged on or after 1 February 2012 will be dealt with under the provisions in the Appeals Regulations 2012 and the School Admission Appeals Code.

If you have questions, please read the FAQs about changes to school information regulations.