Introduction
'Admission arrangements' is a term we use to describe the overall procedure, practices, criteria and supplementary information used by a school admission authority in deciding on the allocation of places in a school.
Timetable for deciding school admissions arrangements
The school admissions system operates on a two year cycle. The admission authority - which can be a governing body of a school, an Academy trust or a local authority, depending on the category of school - are required to ‘determine’ their admission arrangements by 15 April 2012 for admission to that school in September 2013.
Parents will be notified of the school where their child has been offered a place; after the published 'offer' dates for primary schools, or, on the ‘national offer date’ for secondary schools. If the place is accepted, the child would start at that school in the September of the same year.
Not offered a place at preferred school
For those parents wanting to appeal against not being offered a place at their chosen school, please see the link to guidance for parents provided on Directgov.
Admission arrangements - who can object?
Any person or body who considers that any maintained school or Academy's arrangements are unlawful, or not in compliance with the Code or relevant law relating to admissions, can make an objection to the Schools Adjudicator.
When can I object?
Please complete the objection form below under associated resources to object. This form needs to be submitted between the school admission arrangements being determined by 15th April, and by the 30 June in that year.
It is advisable for you to object as early as possible as any delays up to the deadline will impact on the decision date. If you miss the deadline, the adjudicator may still consider the objection - but only if there is good reason for not sending it earlier.
Why might I object?
There are many ways in which school admission arrangements could potentially be in breach of the mandatory elements of the School Admissions Code (the Code). The Code is published by the Department for Education.
What happens next?
The schools adjudicator will consider all evidence provided to them before reaching an independent decision within the law.
Once made, a ‘determination’ will be published on this website. The determination will contain the decision and the reasons behind that decision.
Right of appeal
Once the determination is published it can only be challenged by a Judicial Review through the Administrative Court (a division of the High Court), and must be made within three months from the date of the determination.
The Judicial Review can only be made on the basis of the process followed in making a determination, and not the determination itself.