Proposed Co-ordinated Scheme for Secondary School Admissions for 2025/26

This  scheme for co-ordinated  admissions is pursuant to section (89b)  of  the  School Standards  and  Framework  Act  1998, for co-ordinating the arrangements for the admission of pupils to secondary schools within the LA area. It applies to all secondary schools in Wiltshire with effect from September 2025 intakes. There will be an annual review of the scheme as per the School Admissions Code in force at the time.

2. In this scheme -
"the LA" means Wiltshire Council acting in their capacity as a local (education)authority;
"the LA area" means the County of Wiltshire;
The definitions of "primary education", "primary school", "secondary education" and"secondary school" can be found in sections 2 and 5 of the Education Act 1996.
"school" means a community, (C) voluntary controlled, (VC) foundation, (F) or voluntary aided (VA) school or academy (A) school.
"Academy" means a state funded, non-fee paying independent school set up under a Funding Agreement between the Secretary of State and the proprietor of an Academy(most commonly and hereafter referred to as an Academy Trust). Academy Funding Agreements require them to comply with the Code and the law relating to admissions, though the Secretary of State has the power to vary this requirement where there is a demonstrable need;
"admission authority" in relation to a community or voluntary controlled school means the LA and, in relation to an F or VA school or UTC (University Technical College)means the governing body of that school/college and in relation to an Academy it is the governing body / academy trust.
"the specified year" means the school year beginning September 2025;
"admission arrangements" means the determined arrangements which govern the procedures and decision-making for the purposes of admitting pupils to a school;
"first round application" means any application for a place in the first year of secondary education that is received before the deadline of 31 October 2024.
"Second and third round application" means any application for a place in the first year of secondary education that is received after the deadline of 31 October 2024.
"eligible for a place" means that a child's name has been placed on a school's ranked list within the school's published admission number (PAN).

The application round for entry into YR7 - 2025 opens on 1 September 2024.  The deadline date for applications to be submitted is midnight on 31 October 2024. The  home  address  given  for  the  child  must  be  the  address  where  the  child is resident as of the deadline date.

Government legislation states that young people have to stay in education or training until  their 18^th birthday. This will usually be at secondary school until the academic year in which they are 16 (some students may  transfer to Further  Education  or  a University Technical College  at  14). Students can then choose from one of  the following options post-16; full-time education, such as school or college; an apprenticeship; employment or volunteering alongside  part-time  education or accredited training. It is compulsory that they participate in education or training until their 18th birthday. The only exception is early achievement of level 3 qualifications for example if they take A level exams in year 12.

3. Parents will be able to make an online application. If an online application has been submitted, a written application is not necessary. The online facility will be available from 1 September 2024 up until the deadline of 31 October 2024.

4. There will be a standard application form known as the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF). This form must be used to apply for the admission of pupils, into the first year of secondary education in the specified year, unless an online application has been submitted.

5. The SCAF must be used as a means of expressing one or more preferences by the parent wishing to apply for a school place for their child (either within or outside the county). The child must live in Wiltshire.

6. The LA will make arrangements to ensure:

a. the SCAF is accompanied by written guidance notes
b. that copies are available on request from the LA
c. that an electronic version of the form is available for parents to make an online application.

7. The SCAF and accompanying guidance notes will invite the parent to express up to three  preferences  in  rank  order and  give  reasons for  their  preferences. Preferred schools may be state funded schools inside or outside Wiltshire. They will also explain that the parent will receive no more than one offer of a school place and specify the closing  date  and  the  address  to  which the  SCAF must  be  returned.   They  will  also confirm that;

a. a place will be offered at their highest ranked school at which they are eligible to be offered a place; or
b. if a place cannot be offered at any one of their preferred schools, and the child is living within Wiltshire, a place at an alternative school will be allocated.

8. Any school which operates criteria for selection by ability or aptitude must ensure that its  arrangements for assessing ability or aptitude enable decisions to be made in accordance with the scheme's timescale as set out in the back of this policy.

9. The governing body of an Academy (A), Foundation  (F), or Voluntary Aided (VA)School, can ask parents who have expressed a preference for their school on the SCAF, to provide additional information on a supplementary form, but only if the additional information is required in order to apply their oversubscription criteria to the application.

10. Where a school receives a  supplementary form, it will not  be  regarded  as a valid application unless the parent has also completed a SCAF which expressed a preference for that school. The SCAF or  an online application must have been returned to the LA by the deadline date.

11. The deadline date for applications is 31 October 2024. All completed SCAFs are to be returned directly to the LA by the deadline date. Any SCAFs which are incorrectly returned to schools, must  be forwarded to the  LA to be submitted by  the  deadline. Forms returned to schools and not  received by the LA  by 31 October 2024 will be treated as late applications.

12. The LA will send out an acknowledgement of  receipt  for each SCAF and all online applications. Applicants will be advised to contact the LA if they have not received an acknowledgement with 15 school days of posting their paper application.

13. The child's address provided on the application form should be that of the child's normal place of residence. Only one address can be considered for application purposes. The address provided will be used to determine the child's priority for a school place. The Local Authority reserves the right to confirm the address provided by the applicant using the council tax reference number which is provided as part of the application.

For YR 7 September 2025 entry, the address used to determine priority of school places for on time applications submitted in the main round, will be the child's normal place of residence as at deadline date of 31 October 2024. A future address from an applicant who is moving can be considered if the Local Authority receives evidence in the form of an exchange of contracts or a tenancy agreement of a minimum of six months by the 16 December 2024.

Where children spend time with parents at more than one address then the address given on the form should be the one at which they are normally and habitually resident, i.e. sleep at, for the majority of term-time school nights (Sunday night to Thursday night). If children spend time equally at different addresses, then the address which will be used for admissions purposes will be the one registered for child benefit. The Local Authority may request proof of the registered address, which must pre-date the application.

Future addresses from applicants who currently own a property that is unoccupied or rented out, for which they plan to return to, will not be used when allocating places, unless a formal notice to terminate the rental agreement has been received by the deadline date/exceptional circumstances date. Such applications will be checked to confirm the applicants have returned to the property. If the applicant has not returned to the address, it will be considered a fraudulent application and the place will be taken away, even if the child has already started school. If no proof is provided, the current address will be used to determine the child priority of a school place.

For in year transfer applications the current address at the time of application will be used.

14. A designated area is a discrete geographical zone served by a school. The address that determines a child's designated area is the place where the child is ordinarily resident with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) for the majority of the school week. Most schools have a discrete designated area but some addresses fall within areas shared by two or more schools. Children who live outside the designated area for the school may still express a preference for the school.

In the case of children from the boating community (Boaters) proof of mooring will be required.  Those without a permanent mooring, must provide details/proof of their sorting office, post office/poste restante address and this will be used for admissions criteria and allocation purposes.

Applicants will only be considered from the address as of the deadline date (for applications into YR7, unless proof of future address is provided) and this will be used to determine the child's priority for a school place. For in year transfer applications the current address at the time of application will be used.

If there is a tie-break situation, then the criteria of the relevant admissions authority will be applied.

15. Where two (or more) adults have parental responsibility for a child, it is preferable that they should  agree which  school(s) to  name as their  preference(s) schools  before submitting an application form. In cases of dispute, or where two application forms are submitted,  the  LA  will process the application  received  from  the adult who has a residence  order. If  no such order has been  made,  preference  will  be given to the parent with whom the child is normally living with for the majority of the school week.

If both parents are in dispute as to whom the child lives with the majority of the school week, the LA will process the application received from the adult who is in receipt of the child benefit, if this is not available then the address used on the NHS card will be used.

In the event of a further dispute regarding the application, parents may wish to take independent legal advice on whether they should seek a specific issue order from the court to decide on where the child is schooled. For an in-year transfer application, the placement will continue in the best interests of securing educational provision for the child, with a minimum of disruption, until any such order is made.

For year of entry, where possible, a place will be offered in accordance with the preferences to the parent who can provide evidence that they are in receipt of child benefit.

Where children spend time with parents at more than one address then the address given on the form should be the one at which they are normally and habitually resident,i.e. sleep at, for the majority of term-time school nights (Sunday night to Thursday night). If children spend time equally at different addresses, then the address which will be used for admissions purposes will be the one registered for child benefit. The Local Authority may request proof of the registered address, which must pre-date the application.

16. Applications for children of service personnel with a confirmed posting to the county, will be considered in advance of the family moving into the county. Where possible, an application must be included in the normal admissions round.

17. An official letter, such as a posting note or letter of support from the commanding officer should be sent to the LA as soon as possible. This should include the relocation date and unit postal address or quartering area address.

18. Until a fixed address is available, the unit postal address will be used and a school place allocated accordingly. For service personnel moving back to a property that they own and this is currently rented out, then this address can be considered providing a signed letter from the Commanding Officer or a formal notice to terminate the rental agreement is received stating the future address.

19. The LA will not refuse a child of UK service personnel a school place because the family does not currently live in the area. It is also not permitted to reserve places for these children. If a place is not secured at the preferred school and the applicant has provided proof of a Wiltshire address, then an alternative place will be allocated. This will be at the next nearest school to the unit postal address or quartering address with available places.

20. Children will be considered to be siblings if any brother or sister (including step siblings living at the same address) has been formally offered a place at the school which has been accepted. The sibling link will not apply if the child on roll is in Yr11, YR12 or YR13 for VC & C's schools. Parents should view individual admissions policies for VA, F and A schools for information about sibling priority/YR11, YR12 and YR13 pupils. Their position on any waiting list will be set accordingly.

21. All applications for a child from overseas will be considered in accordance with the relevant legislation at the time of application.

22. Applications on behalf of a child currently living outside the UK will be considered, but until the child is resident in the UK, their home address outside the UK, will be considered as being their place of residence. Exceptions to this would be instances where the child of a parent(s) returning from foreign postings, such as UK service personnel and other crown servants who have been posted abroad on a fixed term contract and who are returning to live within the UK or if an exchange of contract or signed tenancy is received to support the application. Proof of the future UK residency will be required. Future addresses from applicants who currently own a property that is unoccupied or rented out, for which they plan to return to, will not be used when allocating places, unless a formal notice to terminate the rental agreement has been received by the deadline date/ exceptional circumstances date. Such applications will be checked to confirm the applicants have returned to the property. If the applicant has not returned to the address, it will be considered a fraudulent application and the place will be taken away, even if the child has already started school. If no proof is provided, the current address will be used to determine the child priority of a school place.

23. Where a selection test of any kind is part of the school's admission arrangements, the admission authority is required to allow the child to sit the entrance exam and inform parents of the outcome prior to preferences being made.

First Round Applications for Secondary YR7 2025 Intake(applications submitted by the deadline of 31 October 2024)

24. The LA will act as a clearing house for the allocation of places by the relevant admission authorities in response to the SCAFs. The LA will only make a decision with respect to the offer or refusal of a place in response to any preference expressed on the SCAF :-

a. it is acting in its separate capacity as an admission authority, or
b. an applicant is eligible for a place at more than one school, or
c. an applicant is not eligible for a place at any of the schools for which a preference was expressed.

25. The process by which the LA will allocate places is explained at paragraphs 27-37.

26. 31 October 2024 - closing date for all applications to be submitted to the School Admissions Team at County Hall. Applications submitted by this date will be classed as first round/on time applications.

27. By 15 November 2024 where parents have nominated a secondary school outside the LA area, the LA will notify the relevant LA.

28. By 22 November 2024 the LA will notify all A, F and VA schools of every preference that has been expressed for that school.

29. 16 December 2024: Exceptional circumstances deadline. Only in exceptional circumstances such as those listed here will a late application be considered at the same time as applications received by the deadline of 31 October 2024.

a. where there has been a change of family circumstances after the deadline date which has a significant effect on the preferences given on the original application. (If this is a house move, this must have been completed with an exchange of contracts before 16 December 2024).
b. a move into Wiltshire from outside the county after the deadline date but before 16 December 2024. Confirmation of the new address (in the form of an exchange of contracts or a tenancy agreement of a minimum of six months)must be provided before 16 December 2024.
c. service personnel moving to a Wiltshire address after the deadline date. A posting notice must be provided before 16 December 2024.

Documentary evidence should be provided with the application (or at the latest by 16 December 2024) to verify the circumstances which caused the late application to be made. If evidence cannot be provided, the application will not be treated as an exception.

30. By 6 January 2025 the LA will provide a final list to all admissions authorities of every preference that has been expressed for their school(s) including those considered as exceptional as outlined in paragraph 29 and those residents in other LA areas.

31. By 13 January 2025 all A, F and VA schools must have considered all the preferences for their school and provided the LA with a ranked list of all applicants in accordance with the oversubscription criteria.

32. The LA will then match this ranked list against all other ranked lists and:

• Where the child is eligible for a place at only one of the preferred schools, a place at the school will be offered to the child.
• Where the child is eligible for a place at two or more of the nominated schools, they will be offered a place at whichever school was their highest available preference.
• Where the child is not eligible for a place at any of the nominated schools and they live in Wiltshire, a place will be allocated at the next nearest school to the home address with available places.
• Should this place subsequently be declined then it is the parent's responsibility to apply for an alternative school place.

33. By 3 February 2025 the LA will inform other LAs of any places in Wiltshire schools which will be offered to their residents.

34. By 28 February 2025 the LA will inform Wiltshire schools of the pupils to be offered places at their schools.

35. On 3 March 2025 (National Offer Date) offers will be despatched to all parents who submitted an application form by 31 October 2024 offering a place at one school.

36. These offer letters and emails will give the following information:

a. the name of the school at which a place is offered;
b. the reason why the child is not being offered a place at any of the other schools nominated on the SCAF;
c. information about their statutory right of appeal against any decision to refuse places at other preferred schools;

37. 17 March 2025 the deadline for parents to accept the place offered. Parents should confirm their acceptance online if they have applied online, or if they have applied by paper return the acceptance/decline slip directly to the Local Authority.

If the parent does not respond to the Local Authority to confirm if they wish to accept or decline the offer by 17 March 2025, the Local Authority will send a reminder to the parent informing them that failure to respond could result in the offer of the place being withdrawn. Should the offer be withdrawn then it will then be the parent's responsibility to apply for an alternative school place.

Second Round Applications for Secondary YR 7, 2025 Intake(applications received between 1 November 2024 and 07 March 2025)

38. Second round applications, i.e. those received between 1 November 2024 and 7 March 2025 (except those covered by paragraph 29) for the YR 7 Intake round will not be considered until after all first round on time applications have been processed. Second round applications will be considered together with any applicant previously refused a place in the first round and if necessary will be prioritised using the oversubscription policy in place at the time.

Additional applications:
Only one offer of a school place for each child can be held at any one time. If the Local Authority receives a further application for a child who has already secured a place in an earlier round, the new stated preferences will automatically supersede any earlier preferences stated.

During the second round of applications parents should note that the school initially allocated will be retained for their child pending the outcome of the later application and that there is no guarantee of gaining a place at the preferred school named on the new application.

Parents can only hold one offer. Therefore, if an offer is made to a child during the second round of allocations any offer made in the first round will automatically be withdrawn.

The LA will contact all Foundation, Aided Schools and Academies named as a preference on the application form, to determine whether or not a place is available. An offer will be made for the school named as the highest preference where there is an identified place. Where the child is not eligible for a place at any of the nominated schools, and the child lives in Wiltshire, the child will be allocated a place at their designated school if possible, unless an alternative place is available within a safe statutory walking distance from their home address.

39. 21 March 2025 details of second round applications received between the 1 November 2024 and 7 March 2025 to be sent to, Academies, Foundation and Voluntary Aided Schools.

40. 28 March 2025 Academies, Foundation and Voluntary Aided Schools to provide the LA with a ranked list of second round applications.

On receipt the LA will match the returns from all schools and will make an allocation of one place for each applicant:

• Where the child is eligible for a place at only one of the preferred schools, a place at the school will be offered to the child.
• Where the child is eligible for a place at two or more of the nominated schools, they will be offered a place at whichever school was their highest available preference.
• Should this place subsequently be declined then it is the parent's responsibility to apply for an alternative school place.
• LA to send schools a list of late applicants being offered a place on 26 April 2025.

41. 25 April 2025 the LA will send out the second round offers to schools for applications received between 1 November 2024 and 7 March 2025.

42. 9 May 2025 is the last date for second round offers to be accepted by parents. Parents should complete the slip attached to the decision letter and return it to the Local Authority to confirm if they wish to accept or decline the place.

If the parent does not respond to the Local Authority to confirm if they wish to accept or decline the offer by 09 May 2025, the Local Authority will send a reminder to the parent informing them that failure to respond could result in the offer of the place being withdrawn. Should the offer be withdrawn then it will then be the parent's responsibility to apply for an alternative school place.

Third Round Applications for Secondary YR 7, 2025 Intake(applications received after 7 March 2025)

43. Third round applications, i.e. those received after 7 March 2025 for the YR7 Intake round will not be considered until after all the second round applications have been processed. Third round applications will be considered together with any applicant previously refused a place and if necessary will be prioritised using the oversubscription policy in place at the time.

Only one offer of a school place for each child can be held at any one time. If the Local Authority receives a further application for a child who has already secured a place in an earlier round, the new stated preferences will automatically supersede any earlier preferences stated.

During the third round of applications parents should note that the school initially allocated will be retained for their child pending the outcome of the later application and that there is no guarantee of gaining a place at the preferred school named on the new application.

Parents can only hold one offer. Therefore, if an offer is made to a child during the third round of allocations any offer made in the first or second round will automatically be withdrawn.

The LA will contact all Foundation, Aided schools and Academies named as a preference on the application form to determine whether or not a place is available. An offer will be made for the school named as the highest preference where there is an identified place. Where the child is not eligible for a place at any of the nominated schools, and the child lives in Wiltshire, the child will be allocated a place at their designated school if possible, unless an alternative place is available within the safe statutory walking distance from their home address.

44. Applications received after the 7 March 2025 will be considered in date order of receipt and will be looked at after 16 May 2025 (i.e. once the second round of applications have been processed).

45. Any applications received by the LA after 7 March 2025 will be dealt with as soon as possible with allocations to a single school being made and offer letters sent out from the LA as soon as is practicably possible.

Parents should return the acceptance slip attached to the letter to the LA to inform them if they are accepting or declining the place.

If the parent does not respond to the Local Authority to confirm if they wish to accept or decline the offer by date stated in the letter, the Local Authority will send a reminder to the parent informing them that failure to respond could result in the offer of the place being withdrawn. Should the offer be withdrawn then it will then be the parent's responsibility to apply for an alternative school place.

46. Any applications received by any school should be forwarded to the LA within five days of receipt.

Applications for Secondary YR7, 2025 Intake (applications received after 24 July 2025 - end of term)

47. Any applications received by the LA after 24 July 2025 will be forwarded to the school within two school days of receipt at which time the process for in year applications will apply.

48. Parents who are refused a place at a school for which they have applied have the right of  appeal  to  an independent  Admission  Appeal  panel. All  appeals  will  be  heard  in accordance with the timescales which have been determined and are explained in the School Admissions Appeals Code.

The deadline dates for lodging appeals for VC & C Schools for the main round entry is:

First round appeals

For  applications received  from  1 September  2024 - 31 October  2024 and for  offers made on National Offer Date, appeals must be received by the Local Authority no later than 31 March 2025.

Second round appeals

For applications received from 1 November 2024 - 7 March 2025 and for offers made on 25 April 2025, appeals will be heard as soon as possible.

Third round appeals

For applications received after the7 March 2025 and  for  offers  made as soon as possible after16 May 2025, appeals will be heard as soon as possible.

Own admission authority appeal timetables will be provided within the individual school's admissions policy or on the schools website.

All appeals will be heard in accordance with the timescales which have been determined and are explained in the School Admissions Appeals Code.

49. Wiltshire Council  will  always try  and allocate a space at  a child's  designated school whenever this is possible. It must be noted we cannot reserve places at any school nor can we guarantee that a space will be available at the designated school. Having enough spaces in schools for local children is a service priority for the School Buildings and Places team.

50. The LA has the responsibility  for  the  strategic management of school places across the county and  has to ensure admissions do not compromise its ability to provide efficient and effective use of  resources. It is often more economic to admit local children to their designated school because this does not incorporate any additional transport costs which would be required, were an alternative school to be allocated.

51. For some schools, the next nearest school does not provide a reasonable alternative because it is beyond the statutory walking distance or the route to it is unsafe or there may not be available transport.  Any children who move into these areas might have to be admitted to the designated school despite any existing pressures upon it.

52. It may not always be possible to find a space at the designated school if this is already oversubscribed. If a school is oversubscribed, then Looked After Children will be given the  highest priority on any waiting  list. Following this in area children will be given priority on any waiting  list over out of  area children at all VC & C schools. If  the designated area school is unable to accommodate any more children within the year group, then the LA will allocate an alternative school  which  will be the next nearest school which has places available.

53. Transport would be made available for any children who had to be allocated a school because their designated school was full and the school that has been allocated is outside of the statutory safe walking distance for the age of the child.

Details of where to submit an application for your preferred school can be found on the Wiltshire Council website.

All applications received by Wiltshire Council via post or online will be date stamped on the date they are received by the school admissions team, unless the application is received over the weekend in these cases the form will be stamped as being received on the next working day.

For in-year transfer applications co-ordinated by Wiltshire Council, the following process applies.

54. The LA will make available copies of the 'Finding a School Place Guide' online and hard copies on request from County Hall.

55. All applicants who wish to apply for a school place must complete an application form which should be returned to the LA. The applicant may or may not live in Wiltshire. Applications should be completed online.

56. Should a parent living in Wiltshire wish to apply for a school in another authority, they must contact that authority directly for details on how to apply.

57. Should any Wiltshire school receive an in-year application form expressing a preference for that school, the form should be forwarded to the LA within two school days of receipt. This will only be applicable if the LA co-ordinates in year applications for the school.

58. Where the LA receives an in-year application form expressing a preference for a VC or C school the application will be forwarded to the school within three school days of receipt. The school is then required to advise the LA if a place can be offered within two school days or receipt.

59. For any Academy, F or VA school who is part of the in year co-ordination process, the school's governing body is responsible for deciding the outcome of the application and advising the LA accordingly within two school days of the date of which the information was received by the school.

60. In all cases, a decision letter will be sent out by the Local Authority within 15 school days of receiving the application form and this will provide information, if appropriate, about the statutory right of appeal.

61. If an application has been passed on to a selective school, it is recognised that such a school will not be able to make a response to the LA until after the result of an appropriate selection test has been received. The selective school will inform the LA of the outcome of the application as soon as practicable after the result of any selection test is known. A decision letter will be sent out by the LA and will provide information, if appropriate about the statutory right of appeal.

62. The Local Authority will maintain waiting lists for all year groups for VC & C schools, however the parent must confirm if they wish their child's name to be placed on the waiting list. This will not happen automatically.

63. The school/academy will maintain waiting lists for all year groups for A, F & VA schools and parents should contact the directly to place their child's name on the waiting list.

If an own admission authority school does not wish the LA to co-ordinate its in year, applications, the admission authority must officially confirm this to the LA by 31 August each year. It will then be the responsibility of that admissions authority to ensure that applications are processed in line with the School Admissions Code.

The admissions authority will then have to process the application and inform the parent of the outcome and where necessary their statutory right of appeal. In all cases, it is also required to forward a copy of the application, along with the decision, to the LA within two school days.

Where a school has opted in to the in-year co-ordination process, then all places offered at one of these schools must be taken up within 28 working days of the date stated on the initial application form, unless the school has an alternative timescale for this on their website. If the place has not been taken up with 28 working days, then the offer could be withdrawn.

64. Parents who are refused a place at a school for which they have applied have the right of appeal to an independent Admission Appeal panel. All appeals will be heard in accordance with the timescales which have been determined and are explained in the School Admissions Appeals Code.

65. Applications for transfer for VC and C schools as well as any Voluntary Aided, Foundation school or Academy that have opted in to the In Year Co-ordination Scheme (these are schools which are available for selection on the Parent Portal) can be submitted eight weeks in advance of the required admissions date.

66. Applications for transfer for VA and F schools and Academies will be forwarded when received directly to the schools named for consideration in accordance with the school's own admissions policy.

67. Parents or students wishing to enrol for sixth form courses should contact the school and ask for a copy of the sixth form prospectus. This will detail the courses offered at the school and any specific entry requirements for any of those courses.  The school will require an application form to be completed should the parent or student wish to make a formal application to join the school's sixth form.

68. The LA reserves the right to ask parents for proof of their address. If the parents' current address is different to that held on the LA's computerised system, the LA may ask parents to provide proof of the new address. Acceptable proof of address includes:

• A formal exchange of contracts, a signed solicitor's letter or email stating contracts have been exchanged and specifying a completion date.
• A signed and dated tenancy agreement plus proof of residency (e.g. copy of a recent utility bill)

If parents fail to provide proof of a new address, the LA will use the old address for admission purposes. If parents notify the LA that they will be moving house, even if they provide the relevant proof of that address, they must move into that property by no later than the end of the first term following the notification. The LA reserves the right to check that parents are living in the address indicated within that timescale. If parents are not living there, the applications will be investigated and the allocated place may be withdrawn. The parent will then have the statutory right of appeal.

69. All  Wiltshire  Schools  will  act  in accordance with the Fair Access Protocol which has been adopted to give access to educational provisions for hard to place children. Further information on the In-Year Fair  Access  Protocol, as well as a copy of  the protocol, can be viewed at www.wiltshire.gov.uk

70. Early or Delayed Transfer

a. Early Transfer

Children may only transfer early to a secondary school in exceptional circumstances such as if they have previously been educated out of cohort or if it can be shown that not to do so would be detrimental to their academic progress or social wellbeing. All requests will involve consultation with the current school, the school to which the child wishes to transfer to. It would also be the case that the Local Authority's professional adviser would be involved with any decision-making. In addition to this, there must be clear evidence from the child's current primary school confirming that the child is exceeding age related expectations and that it would be detrimental for the child to remain in the current setting. As with any request for admission out of cohort, clear evidence will need to be provided as to why this would be in the child's best interest.

b. Delayed transfer

All requests must be submitted to the Local Authority by 31 October in the year in which the child would have chronologically transferred to secondary school.

Children may remain for a further year in a primary school if it can be shown that not to do so would be detrimental to their academic progress or social wellbeing, The presence of special educational needs or underachievement are not in themselves sufficient reasons to delay transfer.

Children for whom a delayed entry to school or year group retention has already been agreed by the relevant parties, will continue in the lower year group unless it can be shown that it is in their best interests to rejoin their chronological year group. The continuation of this arrangement will continue on transfer to secondary school unless the parent/carer, the current school, the school to which the child would otherwise wish to transfer and, where appropriate, the LA's professional adviser, consider it in the child's best interest to rejoin the chronological year group. An application for transfer to secondary school must still be made in the same way as expected of other children in the year group in which they are working (rather than their chronological age group).

If a child is currently on a roll at a school and a delayed entry is submitted and cannot be agreed, then no alternative school will be offered.

Applications for delayed entry to out of county schools

Parents who wish to apply for a main round delayed entry to an out of county school should submit the request to Wiltshire Council. Wiltshire Council will pass this on to the other Local Authority for consideration. Wiltshire Council will then inform the parent of the decision of the request.

Parents who wish to apply for a delayed entry as an in-year transfer should contact the Local Authority where the preferred school is situated for details of how to apply.

Right of Appeal for the Admission of children outside their normal age group

Parents who are refused a place at a school for which they have applied have the right of appeal to an independent Admission Appeal panel. They do not have a right of appeal if they have been offered a place and it is not in the year group they would like. However, if parents are dissatisfied with the outcome of the request for delayed entry, they have the right to complain against the decision through the Council's complaints procedure for decisions made by council officers. Where the school is its own admissions authority, parents can complain using the school's complaints procedure.