Guidance in this article is taken from the School Admissions Code 2021. The code applies to maintained schools and academies in England. It does not apply to maintained special schools.
Who is responsible for setting admissions arrangements?
Your school's admission authority is responsible for formally agreeing admission arrangements every year, even if they haven't changed from previous years.
This is explained in paragraphs 1.49 and 1.50 of the admissions code, linked above.
| Type of school | Who is the admission authority? |
| Academies | Academy trust |
| Community schools | Local authority |
| Foundation schools | Governing board |
| Voluntary aided schools | Governing board |
| Voluntary controlled schools | Local authority |
If you're in a voluntary aided or foundation school, or an academy, and therefore your board/trust is your admission authority, a decision to offer or refuse admission must not be made by 1 individual. The whole governing board, or an admissions committee established by the governing board, must make such decisions.
If your school is undersubscribed, every child
