Admission Criteria

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Admission to primary and secondary schools is not automatic. All schools have admission criteria which the school's admission authority uses to allocate places if they receive more applications than they have places available.

How schools allocate places

Every child aged between five and 16 is entitled by law to a place at a state school. Wherever possible you will be offered a place at one of your preferred schools, but this can't be guaranteed. Every school has an admissions limit, and this determines the number of applicants they will accept.

The criteria

Every school has a set of rules, known as the admission or oversubscription criteria. Schools that are oversubscribed will follow these rules when allocating places. Admission criteria are set by the school's admission authority.

• Wiltshire Council is the admission authority for community and voluntary controlled schools.
• The school's governing body is the admissions authority for foundation and voluntary aided schools and academies.
• Independent schools decide their own admission criteria.

Find out more about different types of school in Wiltshire.

• Admission criteria for community and voluntary controlled primary schools in Wiltshire
• Admission criteria for community and voluntary controlled secondary schools in Wiltshire

Foundation schools, voluntary aided schools and academies

Primary

A summary of the admission criteria for foundation and voluntary aided primary schools in Wiltshire can be found in the relevant list of primary schools below. However, for full versions of the admission policies please contact the schools directly. These lists also show how many places there are at each school, how many children can be admitted this year, how many children were admitted last year and how places were decided.

• Primary schools admissiions in north Wiltshire 2011-12 Primary schools in north Wiltshire 383kb
• Primary school admissions in south Wiltshire 2011-12 Primary schools in south Wiltshire 1009kb
• Primary school admissions in east Wiltshire 2011-12 Primary schools in east Wiltshire 827kb
• Primary school admissions in West Wiltshire 2011-12 Primary schools in west Wiltshire 996kb

Secondary

You can find a summary of the admission criteria for foundation and voluntary aided secondary schools and academies in the back of our booklet Schools admissions - Application for a secondary school place 2012/13 'A parents guide to applying for a secondary school place' 385kb For full versions of the admission policies please contact the schools directly.You can find details of the number of places available and how they were allocated last year below.

• Secondary schools in Wiltshire Secondary schools in Wiltshire 369kb

Grammar schools

These schools select children based on academic ability which in effect becomes their first oversubscription criteria for any admissions. Grammar schools are allowed to ask children to sit a test as part of the admissions process and can leave spaces empty at the school if not enough children pass the test.

There are two selective grammar schools in Wiltshire: Bishop Wordsworth’s for boys (aided), and South Wilts for girls (foundation). Both are in Salisbury. The test for 2012 entry will be held on Saturday 26 November 2011. In order to sit the selection test at these schools you must submit an application form to your home local authority.

If you are considering any grammar school for your child then you are advised to contact that school directly to enquire about their testing arrangements. In some local authorities (such as Gloucestershire) the selection tests happen before the national deadline for applications on 31 October 2010.

It is important that if you live in Wiltshire and wish your child to start at a grammar school in September 2012 you must complete an application form and return it to Wiltshire Council before 31 October 2011. If you apply after this date your child will have to sit a late test and you may find the school is oversubscribed, even if your child passes the selection test.

Please note: if you name a grammar school as a second preference but we can offer your first preference school, we will do so even if your child passes the selection test. In most cases you are advised to place the grammar school as your higher or highest preference.

Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Children who have a statement of SEN are placed in schools through the arrangements set out in the SEN Code of Practice and not through any admission criteria.

All admissions to schools for students who have a statement are handled by Central SEN Services at Wiltshire Council. Their contact number is 01225 718095.

Children who may need additional learning help but do not have a formal statement of SEN, must follow the usual process when applying for a school place and the normal admission criteria will apply.

Find out about the criteria before you apply

If you are applying to a popular school, check how closely your child meets the criteria. If your child meets one of the highest criteria for each of the schools you have chosen (for example, you live in the catchment area or have a child already at the school), your chances of being offered a place are much higher. Be realistic - it is possible that not everyone who applies will be offered a place.

Whenever a child is refused admission to a school their name is automatically added to a waiting list and they have a right to appeal.

Related information

Admission policy documents, including the schemes of coordination for admission to primary and secondary schools.

Related links

• Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) - a national charity that provides advice and information to parents and carers on school based issues including admissions.
• Department for Education - government department responsible for education and children's services.

Last updated: 22 September 2011