Admissions above the PAN

Read advice on admitting pupils above the published admission number (PAN), and the different ways maintained schools and academies can be directed to admit above the PAN.

Last reviewed on 3 May 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 13332
Contents
  1. Your admission authority may admit above the PAN
  2. You may admit above the PAN in-year
  3. Challenging a direction to admit above the PAN
  4. Admissions of twins and multiple birth children above the PAN

Your admission authority may admit above the PAN

This applies to:

  • Maintained schools, with the exception of maintained special schools
  • Academies

Your admission authority may admit above the published admission number (PAN) at any point after the number has been determined. However, it must inform the local authority (LA) “in good time” to allow it to co-ordinate admissions effectively, according to the School Admissions Code (see paragraph 1.4, page 9).

Who your admission authority is, depends on your school type:

Type of school Who is the admission authority?
Academy Academy trust
Foundation school Governing board
Voluntary aided school Governing board

Community school

Local authority
Voluntary controlled school   Local authority

Your admission authority also don’t have to have some year groups in the school below the

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Also in "Managing the PAN"