How to set your admission arrangements
Learn how admissions authorities set admissions criteria, how the consultation process works and the deadline for consulting on changes.
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Contents
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's responsible for setting admissions arrangements?
Your school's admissions 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.
| 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, you may be asked to sit on a committee to help determine admission arrangements.
How admissions criteria are set
If your school is undersubscribed, every child that requests a place will get one (unless you're a grammar school).
If your school is oversubscribed, admissions criteria are used to help allocate places at your school.
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- Admission appeals
- Admission to reception: deferring entry
- Challenging the placement of a pupil with SEND: guidance and checklist
- In-year admissions and fair access protocols
- Placing pupils in older or younger year groups
- Rules about admission application forms
- School admissions: communication with parents
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