All schools are reminded of the requirements within the Department for Education School Admissions Code which has statutory force regarding requests for admission outside of the normal admissions round (i.e. in year admissions).
Where a School is undersubscribed, i.e. the number of children in the year group is below the School's Published Admission Number, then the admission must be agreed unless a child has been permanently excluded from two or more schools, with the date of the last exclusion being no more than 2 years prior to the request. Schools are reminded that any parent can apply for a place for their child at any time to any school outside the normal admissions round. Parents are requested to do this by applying directly to the school using the attached form. Occasionally officers from the Local Authority may help the parent or carer to facilitate an application for a school place, but ultimately it will be the parent/carer's request for admission. The SEN Assessment Team will liaise with your School if the child has an Education Health and Care Plan.
Schools are also reminded that when they receive an in-year application they must notify the local authority of both the application and its outcome, to allow the local authority to keep up-to-date figures on the availability of places in the area. If a school is oversubscribed in the year group and is not in a position to admit the child, then the parent/carer must be given the right of appeal to an independent admission appeal panel and the reason for refusing the admission explained to them. In exceptional circumstances schools may give consideration to oversubscribing a particular year group if they receive an admissions request for an oversubscribed year group, and some schools do this to help support families, and an example may include where a family have moved into the area. However, community and voluntary controlled schools would need to seek the approval of the LA as the admissions authority if this was being considered, and VA/Academy schools are recommended to discuss any such oversubscription with the LA prior to agreement.
Schools should be aware that the Local Authority is required to submit an annual report to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator and is asked to provide details of any school who is not adhering to the admissions regulations, and they will follow this up with any school found to be in breach of the code and associated admissions legislation.
Attached for your information is a copy of the Guide for Parents and Carers, Application Form, and In Year Flow Chart regarding in-year admissions which I hope is helpful.
- Click here for the guide
- Click here for the application
- Click here for the flow chart
If you have any queries regarding in-year admissions please contact the Admissions Team on 0151 511 7271/7338.
