Guidance

Fair access protocols in school admissions

Guidance setting out the principles by which children without a school place are found one as quickly as possible.

Published 28 November 2012
Last updated 28 February 2014 — see all updates

• From: Department for Education

• Applies to: England

Documents

Fair access protocols in school admissions

Ref: DFE-57507-2012 PDF, 135KB, 6 pages

Fair access protocols: directions flowchart

PDF, 501KB, 1 page

Fair access protocols: case studies

Ref: DFE-57511-2012 PDF, 352KB, 15 pages

Details

It is for:

• school leaders and headteachers
• school staff
• governing bodies
• trustees
• academy sponsors
• local authorities

It applies to:

• local-authority-maintained schools
• academies and free schools

The guidance explains:

• the duties of schools and local authorities in relation to the ‘School admissions code’
• how to escalate disputes about individual cases
• how local authorities can request a direction for an academy to admit a particular child

Local authorities can request a direction from the Secretary of State using the appropriate form:

• academy admission form
• looked-after children academy admission form

You should only request a direction as a last resort.

Published 28 November 2012
Last updated 28 February 2014 + show all updates

1. 28 February 2014 Looked-after children direction request form has been added to the page.
2. 28 November 2012 First published.