School Admissions Code Consultation

Consultation on changes to the School Admission Code

The Department for Education has launched a consultation on a revised version of the School Admissions Code, and would welcome your feedback. The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-school-admissions-code--4. The consultation will run until 16 October 2020.

Main proposals

●     To provide clarification and introduce a more robust process for in-year admission process and Fair Access Protocols.

●     To support vulnerable children. The changes would therefore potentially have significant implications for children with SEND. In addition, SEND stakeholders may have a particular interest in a specific recommendation about how the Code should provide for decisions about the admission of children and young people with behaviour that challenges. 

●     To make a change to allow children adopted from state care outside of England the same priority for admissions as domestic looked after and previously looked after children.

●     To provide clarity around the admission of service children and children of crown servants, alongside some additional minor drafting changes that will improve existing provisions.

The consultation has been extended for a period of 16 weeks, running into the Autumn term to allow for disruption caused by both the school holidays and the phased re-opening and return to school. The DfE are planning to host virtual consultation sessions with stakeholders. Please contact them to arrange if this is something you require.

Further information on each of the proposed changes can be found within the consultation document (found at the bottom of the consultation web page under 'attachments'), as well as a revised draft of the Code as proposed.