Management Information Sheet

The DfE issued a consultation on proposed changes to the School Admissions Code 2012 on 22 July 2014 seeking views from admission authorities, early years settings and practitioners, parents, schools and other interested parties. The consultation closes on 29 September 2014 and if approved by Parliament changes to admission arrangements will apply to pupil intakes in September 2017.

The DfE consultation seeks views on the proposed changes listed below and does not seek views on wider changes to the school admissions code at this stage.

The proposed changes are:

1. Priority for pupils entitled to pupil and service premium in state-funded schools:

The proposal is that from the September 2017 admission round admission authorities for all state funded schools will be empowered to include a criterion to prioritise pupils eligible for pupil premium or service premium. Pupil premium provides additional funding for schools to improve achievement of disadvantaged pupils and is payable for all pupils who are eligible for free school meals or who have been eligible during the preceding 6 years. Service premium is payable to schools for pupils of service families or former service families from the preceding 4 years.

2. Priority for some pupils attending nursery classes:

The proposal is that from the September 2017 admission round admission authorities for all state funded schools will be empowered to include a criterion to prioritise pupils seeking a Reception place in a school if the pupil attends a nursery attached to the school or established and run by the school if the pupil is eligible for early years pupil premium, pupil premium or service premium.

From April 2015 the Government will introduce pupil premium for disadvantaged children in early years settings, using free school meals entitlement to confirm eligibility with up to £300 for settings per eligible child.

3. Admissions timetable changes:

Currently admission arrangements are consulted on for a minimum of 8 weeks ending by 1 March with admission arrangements determined by 15 April and published by 1 May for the admission round commencing the following September. Objectors have until 30 June to refer objections to determined arrangements to the Schools Adjudicator. Admissions authorities must comply with any decision imposed by the Adjudicator but the admission authority has until the determination date (15 April) in the following year to comply with the decision.

The proposal is to start the determination process earlier, reduce the period of consultation and require admission authorities to comply with adjudicator's decisions more quickly. Consultation would last for a minimum of six weeks and be completed by 31 January. Arrangements would need to be determined by 28 February and published by 15 March. Objections to determined arrangements would need to be submitted by 15 May. Decisions would need to be implemented within two months of the decision or by the following determination date if this is less than two months from the date of the adjudicator's decision.

4. Summer born children:

The DfE introduced non-statutory guidance in relation to summer born children in July 2013. This expanded on the statutory duty already in the School Admissions Code which requires the admission authority to make decisions based on the circumstances of each case where a parent seeks as school place outside their normal age group.

The proposal is not to make any changes to the legislation but to include expanded guidance in the code highlighting the need to consider parent's views, information about the child's academic, social and emotional development, and the decision must also take account of the views of the Headteacher of the school concerned. The parent must be given detailed reasons for the decision and where the request is supported the application must be considered as part of the normal admission round.

5. Admission of previously looked after children:

The proposal is to extend the definition included in the 2012 Code to include all children who have been adopted from local authority care.

The DfE consultation is available at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-school-admissions-code