Academy trusts must publish their admission arrangements to comply with the:

• school admissions code
• school admission appeals code

The school admissions and appeals codes do not apply to special academies, alternative provision settings or stand-alone 16 to 19 institutions.

September admissions – normal point of entry

By 15 March each year, the trust must publish on its website the admission arrangements for children who will be starting school at the normal point of entry in September of the following year. It must retain them there for the whole of the academic year in which offers for places are made.

The admission arrangements must explain:

• how the trust considers applications for places in each relevant age group (that is, the age group in which children are normally admitted to its schools)
• how many children the trust intends to admit in each relevant age group (known as the published admission number, or PAN)
• what a parent or carer needs to do if they want to apply for their child to attend one of the trust’s schools
• how the trust allocates places if there are more applicants than places available 

Where applicable, the trust must also explain how:

• children applying to a selective school are selected for a place
• a parent or carer of a primary-age child can request that a school delay or defer their child’s entry to reception, and the process for requesting admission outside the normal age group
• many external applicants a school intends to admit into the sixth form

In-year admissions

By 31 August each year, the trust must publish how it will manage in-year applications for places (that is, applications for places in the middle of a school year, or to start in the September of a year which is not the normal point of entry).

If the trust manages those applications, it must provide:

• an application form
• supplementary information, if necessary

If the local authority manages those applications, the trust must publish a link to the in-year application co-ordination scheme. 

Admission appeals

By 28 February each year, the trust must publish a timetable setting out how it will organise and hear admission appeals.

This timetable must:

• include a deadline that allows a parent or carer at least 20 school days from the date of notification that their application was unsuccessful to prepare and lodge a written appeal
• include reasonable deadlines for:
  • a parent or carer to submit additional evidence
  • admission authorities to submit their evidence
  • the clerk to send appeal papers to the panel and parties
• ensure that a parent or carer lodging an appeal receives at least 10 school days’ notice of their appeal hearing
• ensure that decision letters are sent within 5 school days of the hearing, wherever possible

Further guidance is available in the school admission appeals code.

What 16 to 19 academies and FE colleges should publish

16 to 19 academies and FE colleges should publish their admission arrangements.

The school admissions and appeals codes do not apply to these settings.

By the September of the academic year before the one in which they will apply, 16 to 19 academies and FE colleges should publish their arrangements. Parents, carers and young people will use these to make an informed choice, so they should remain unchanged during that year.

The admission arrangements should include details of:

• the open days planned
• how to apply for a place
• whether the 16 to 19 academy or FE college gives priority to applications from pupils enrolled at particular schools