Current arrangements: Overview

The admissions arrangements differ depending on the type of school.

Community and voluntary controlled schools

If the number of applications for admission to a school exceeds the school's published admissions number (PAN) then the available places for the school are allocated in strict accordance with its oversubscription criteria.

Current arrangements (September 2020 admission)

Previous arrangements (September 2019 admission)

Admission arrangements 2021-22 (September 2021 admission)

The admission arrangements for admission year of 2021-22 have now been determined.

There are no changes to the general arrangements or oversubscription criteria applied on behalf of community and voluntary controlled schools for whom the local authority is the responsible admitting authority.

Variations were made as follows in order to comply with a schools adjudicator determination and are summarised below: 

Admission arrangements for middle schools are now included alongside those for primary, first, infant and junior Schools. 

Changes have been made in relation to the order that the additional notes are listed and definitions of terms are clearly signposted alongside the oversubscription criteria where necessary in order to provide more clarity. 

Please also view the summary of changes for other amendments that have been made.

If it is believed that the admission arrangements are unlawful or do not comply with the mandatory requirements of the School Admissions Code objections can be made to the Schools Adjudicator.  Any such objections should be submitted in writing by 15 May 2020  to: The Secretary, Office of the Schools Adjudicator, Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington, DL3 9BG or by email: OSA.TEAM@osa.gsi.gov.uk.

Nursery school admissions arrangements

From September 2019 onwards all schools will manage their own nursery school admissions process.

Schools maintained by other local authorities

You may prefer your child to be admitted to a school maintained by another local authority.

If this is the case, details of their admissions arrangements can be obtained by contacting the authority in question.

Schools which are academies, voluntary aided, Catholic or foundation

These schools have their own oversubscription criteria. The schools use these criteria when allocating places if they are oversubscribed. You can use the A-Z list below to find the arrangements for a specific school in this category.

Please note: If the arrangements for a particular school are not detailed, this is because the school or academy has not sent a copy to the local authority and you should therefore contact the school or academy directly.

Consultations on proposed admission arrangements for    2021-22

The following are consulting on their proposed admission arrangements for 2021/2022:

• Birds Bush Primary (change to oversubscription criteria)
• Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Primary (no proposed changes)
• Dosthill Primary Academy (no proposed changes)
• Etching Hill CE Primary Academy (change to oversubsciption criteria)
• Five Spires Academy (change to oversubscription criteria)
• Gentleshaw Primary Academy (change to oversubscription criteria)
• Knutton St. Mary's CofE Academy - (reduction in PAN)
• Moor First School (no proposed changes)
• Moorhill Primary (change to oversubscription criteria)
• Norton Canes Primary Academy (change to oversubscription criteria)
• St. Giles' & St. George's Church of England Academy (reduction in PAN)
• St. John's Primary Academy, Essington (change to oversubscription criteria)
• St. Joseph's Catholic Primary, Lichfield (change to waiting list process)
• St. Mary's CofE (A) Primary, Mucklestone (no proposed changes)
• St. Peter's CE Primary Academy, Hednesford (change to oversubscription criteria
• Scientia Academy (change to oversubscription criteria)
• Silkmore Primary Academy (change to oversubscription criteria)
• Springhill Academy (change to oversubscription criteria)
• The Faber Catholic Primary School (change to oversubscription criteria) 

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator

Any person or body who considers that any maintained school or academy's arrangements are unlawful, or not in compliance with the school admissions code or relevant law relating to admissions, can make an objection to the schools adjudicator.