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.
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, foundation, or free schools
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/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 2021-22
The following are consulting on their proposed admission arrangements for 2021/2022:
- Description
- DfE number: 4112
Date of last consultation: 2013/2014
UTC, studio schools, and colleges
Please view the individual website for information on how places are allocated.
Sixth forms
Applications for admission to school sixth forms are handled directly by the individual school. They will provide you with advice and details of the examination subjects and courses offered to their students and the minimum entry requirements for those courses on request. Children already attending a school in Year 11 wishing to transfer to a school's sixth form are not required to formally apply for places in Year 12 but should have reached the minimum entry qualifications for admission.
External applicants will have the opportunity to make an application. The outcome will depend on minimum entry qualifications and course or study availability.
If you want advice on the options and entry requirements for individual school sixth forms, please make contact with the schools directly.
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.