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Rules about admission application forms

Your school may need to use a supplementary information form to apply its admission criteria. Read the dos and don'ts for these forms, and see examples from schools.

Last reviewed on 7 January 2025
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 33673
Contents
  1. Your local authority will provide a common application form (CAF)
  2. Admission authorities may create supplementary information forms (SIFs)
  3. You must not ask for certain information
  4. You can ask for some additional evidence
  5. See examples of SIFs

Your local authority will provide a common application form (CAF)

It must provide this during the normal admissions round. 

The CAF enables parents to express their preferences for a place at any state-funded school, including schools from outside the area in which they live. Parents rank a minimum of 3 schools by preference – although admissions authorities must not promise that these preferences will be met.

This is explained in paragraph 2.1 (page 21) of the DfE's school admissions code.

Admission authorities may create supplementary information forms (SIFs)

Not all schools will need to do this.

Admission authorities must only use these forms to request additional information:

  • When it has a direct bearing on decisions about oversubscription criteria, or
  • For the purpose of selection by aptitude or ability

See paragraph 2.4 (page 21) of the guidance linked above.

You must not