Return to Starting Schools Booklet Contents Page
The School Admission Code of Practice (July 2013) gives parents the right to express a preference for their child to be admitted to any school maintained from public funds. However, there are reasons why that preference may have to be refused, as the Local Authority also has to have regard to: • The Infant class size initiative which is committed to ensuring that no child aged 5, 6, and 7 years will be in a class of more than 30 pupils for every one qualified teacher. The statutory infant class size limit of 30 pupils applies to reception, year 1 and year 2 classes.
- The Local Authority commits to ensuring that KS2 classes remain at 30 or less in line with Welsh Government guidance.
- The physical limitations of the school and the site buildings
- Any other factors which may prejudice the provision of efficient education and/or the efficient use of resources.
Exceptions:
Welsh Government Regulations require Authority’s to limit infant class sizes to no more than 30 pupils and to ensure that junior classes do not exceed 30 pupils. There are however exceptions to these regulations (called “excepted pupils”) which may allow the 30 pupil class limit to be exceeded.
These pupils are:
i. Children whose statements of ALN specify that they should be educated at the school concerned, and who are admitted to the school outside a normal admission round;
ii. Looked after children or previously looked after children admitted outside the normal admissions round;
iii. Children initially refused admission to a school, but subsequently offered a place outside a normal admission round by direction of an admission appeal panel, or because the person responsible for making the original decision recognises that an error was made in implementing the school’s admission arrangements;
iv. Children who cannot gain a place at any other suitable school within a reasonable distance of their home because they move into the area outside a normal admission round;
v. Children for whom education at a school which is Welsh speaking is desired where the school concerned is the only such school within a reasonable distance of their home;
vi. Children for whom education at a school with a designated religious character is desired where the school concerned is the only such school within a reasonable distance of their home;
vii. Pupils admitted to the school within an age group in which children are normally admitted and
- admitted after the first day of the relevant school year; and
- where the school has not yet reached its admission number but has already organised its classes; and
- where admission of the child would mean that the school would have to take a relevant measure;
viii. Children of armed forces personnel who are admitted outside of the normal admission round.
ix. Children whose twin or sibling from a multiple birth are admitted as non-excepted pupils, as the final pupil(s) allocated a place before the admission number is reached.
x. Children who are registered pupils at special schools, but who receive part of their education at a mainstream school; and
xi. Children with Additional Learning Needs who are normally educated in a special unit in a mainstream school, but who receive some of their lessons in a non-special class.
Excepted pupils will remain so, once admitted, for the remainder of their time in the infant class or until class numbers fall back and they can be organised to comply with the infant class size limit.
Waiting Lists:
For those applicants that have been unsuccessful in obtaining a place at their preferred school(s), waiting lists will be held until the end of the academic year for which the application is made. After such time, the existing waiting lists will end and a fresh application will be required. The child’s details will automatically be added onto the waiting list for the preferred school(s) at the time of refusal. Waiting lists will be prioritised as per the over-subscription criteria and not based upon the date that the application was submitted.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform the School and Student Access Unit of any change in circumstances which impacts on the oversubscription criteria and therefore their child’s place on the waiting list. An example of this would be a change of address. The parent concerned will be contacted by the School and Student Access Unit within 7 working days of the place becoming available, if their child qualifies for consideration of the place. The parent will be given 7 days to formally accept or decline the offer of the school place in writing. After such time, the child’s name will be withdrawn from the waiting list, and the place will be offered to the next child on the waiting list, as the Local Authority will assume that the place is no longer required.