Cornwall Council and all Cornwall's schools must follow the Admissions Code 2021. For further information visit the School Admissions Code pages on the Government website.
Admission authorities
Each school has an 'admission authority' which makes decisions about admissions for that school. The admission authority for each type of school is:
| Type of School | Admission Authority |
|---|---|
| Academy | Academy Trust |
| Community school | Local Authority |
| Foundation school | Governing Body |
| Voluntary-aided school | Governing Body |
| Voluntary-controlled school | Local Authority |
Admission arrangements
Coordinated Admissions Scheme
This document is prepared by Cornwall Council and it tells you:
- the way applications for state-funded schools in Cornwall will be processed; and
- how places will be allocated.
It is intended to make the admissions process clear and fair.
Admission arrangements including oversubscription criteria
This document tells you:
- how applications will be prioritised when a school does not have enough places for everyone that has applied.
Cornwall Council decides the oversubscription criteria for community and voluntary-controlled schools. This because it is the 'admission authority' for these schools.
This document can be viewed on the page for the relevant year of entry.
The governing body or Academy Trust for these schools decide their own arrangements:
- academy
- foundation
- trust
- voluntary-aided
This is because they are their own admission authority.
Fair Access Protocol
All local authorities must have a Fair Access Protocol.
- It must be agreed with the majority of schools in its area.
- If children have not been able to get a school place during the school year:
- the Fair Access Protocol aims to help them get a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible.
- This is particularly for vulnerable children.
- It must also ensure that schools are not asked to take more children than other schools who:
- have been excluded from other schools
- have challenging behaviour
Please visit the Fair Access Protocol page for more information.
Annual report to the schools adjudicator
All local authorities have to complete a report for the schools adjudicator every year. This describes the effectiveness of admissions in the previous year.
Download the 2023 Office of the Schools Adjudicator Report. To request a hard copy of the report, please contact the School Admissions Team.