Determined admission arrangements for 2025/26

All schools must have admission arrangements that clearly set out how children will be admitted, including the criteria that will be applied if there are more applications than places at the school. Admission arrangements are determined by admission authorities who must set (‘determine’) admission arrangements annually.

Admission authorities must determine admission arrangements for the 2025/26 academic year by 28 February 2024. This should be through a minuted formal discussion by the school’s admissions authority. Once admission authorities have determined their admission arrangements, they must publish a copy of the determined arrangements on their website displaying them for the whole offer year (the school year in which offers for places are made). If you are a community or voluntary controlled school, this is done by Kent County Council as your admission authority.

Academy, Free, Foundation and Voluntary Aided schools must send a copy of their full, determined arrangements (including SIF if applicable) to KCC before 15 March 2023. Please send these to kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk so that we can make them available to view by the public on the KCC website

Before sending the document, please refer to the guidance provided on what the DfE requires in the document available on the admissions arrangement requirements page.

If the school’s arrangements have not been consulted on, and therefore not changed, it is likely you will just need to update the document you sent us last year, for primary schools and for secondary schools. However, this year, you will also be required to consider the following:

Important action for all schools

This year, there is an amendment that will likely be required for your school. As this change is required to clarify existing processes and comply with relevant legislation, it does not require consultation. However, schools should discuss and minute the change during the relevant discussions where arrangements are determined.

1. For schools that make use of KCC provided distances for admissions purposes, we have amended the definition to meet regulatory requirements from the Equality Act (2010). Please can you update your 2025/26 admission arrangements accordingly to the below.
   
   Nearness of children's homes to school - we use the distance between the child’s permanent home address (defined in KCC’s annual admissions prospectus) and the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point. Distances are measured from a point defined as within the child’s home to a point defined as within the school as specified by NLPG. The same address point on the school site is used for everybody. When we apply the distance criterion for the school, these straight-line measurements are used to determine how close each applicant’s address is to the school. Where applications are made from properties or abodes that are not registered to the NLPG, including new build properties, KCC may be required to use planning sites or other relevant co-ordinates. In exceptional circumstances where alternative co-ordinates are not available, measurements will be determined by a Senior Admissions Officer and confirmed by Head of Service.  

If you have any questions, please contact kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk.