School admissions

The table below shows who the admissions authority is depending on the type of school.

Type of School	Who is the Admission Authority?	Who deals with complaints about arrangements?	Who is responsible for arranging/providing for an appeal against refusal of a place at a school?
Academies	Academy Trust	Schools Adjudicator	Academy Trust
Foundation Schools	Governing Body	Schools Adjudicator	Governing Body
Voluntary Aided Schools	Governing Body	Schools Adjudicator	Governing Body
Voluntary Controlled Schools	Local Authority	Schools Adjudicator	Local Authority
Community Schools	Local Authority	Schools Adjudicator	Local Authority

It is a statutory requirement that admissions authorities must set, consult on and determine admissions arrangements for their school.
All arrangements are subject to the DfE’s School Admissions Code 2021.
Every admission authority must formally agree their arrangements for the following academic year and ensure this is recorded at a full Governing Body or Academy Trust Board meeting which must take place before 28th February in the current academic year.
If there is a proposal agreed to any alteration to policy or practice, a public consultation will be required which must last for a minimum of six calendar weeks and take place between 1 October and 31 January of the current academic year.
If no changes are to be made, the Governing Body/Academy Trust just need to formally record this decision.
Admissions authorities must go to public consultation on admissions arrangements every seven years, even if no changes are to be made.
The admissions arrangements must be published on the school website and also shared with the maintaining local authority before 15th March in the current academic year.

We will read any changes to admissions arrangements and respond to the admissions authority; either in agreement or to raise a question or objection. We are looking in particular at any arrangements for faith-based oversubscription criteria. Please see our policy document, available to download below.
Admissions authorities should send any proposed changes to us prior to any consultation by 31 October of the current academic year.
The diocese cannot check admissions arrangements for compliance. However, we can signpost for support with this should you need it.

Action	Deadline
Consultation window	1 October 2024 - 31 January 2025
Deadline to consult with the diocese prior to public consultation	31 October 2024
Deadline to formally determine admissions arrangements	28 February 2025
Deadline to publish on school website	15 March 2025
Deadline to send a copy to LA and notify key stakeholders	15 March 2025
Deadline for LA to publicise all schools’ arrangements	15 March 2025
Deadline for objectors to refer cases to the Schools Adjudicator	15 May 2025