The “normal admissions round” and “in-year admission” are terms used to describe school application processes in the UK. (In-year admissions are also sometimes called “casual admissions”.)
The Normal Admissions Round
The normal admissions round is the standard application process for children starting primary or secondary school at the beginning of the school year.
For Reception, i.e. children starting primary school, applications in the normal round must be completed before 15 January each year.
For secondary school, it applies to students moving from Year 6 to Year 7. Families of children in Year 6 must apply by 31 October each year.
This process involves applying to particular schools, and each school's admission policy decides whether the child is offered a place.
In-Year Admission
In-year admission is the application process for students who need to change school during the school year. There can be several reasons for this:
the family has moved to a new area and needs to enrol their child in a school,
the student is already at a school but wants to move to another,
the child has arrived from another country and needs a school place.
In-year applications can be made at any time during the school year, and apply to children who didn't take part in the normal admissions round (or missed the deadline).
The application is made directly to the school or to the local authority , and places depend on availability.
In summary:
The normal admissions round applies to children applying at the start of the school year for age-based entry points (Reception or the move from Year 6 to Year 7).
In-year admission is the process students use when they need to change school during the school year.
In-Year Admission applications have a fairly high chance of not finding a place, because places are limited and the school may already be full. If there's no place at the school you applied to, your child may be put on the waiting list. Then, when a place comes up, your application is reconsidered and your child may be admitted.
What Is a Waiting List?
When more students apply to a school than it has places, a waiting list is created for those who couldn't be admitted. If a place comes up, a new student is admitted from this list according to set criteria.
A waiting list is not a first-come, first-served system! The order can keep changing according to the school's oversubscription criteria (the criteria applied when there are more applicants than places).
How Does a Waiting List Work?
Waiting list order is not decided by application date! It's decided by the school'sadmission policyand oversubscription criteria .
For example, imagine a school's order of priority is:
- Looked after or previously looked after children
- Children receiving Free School Meals (FSM)
- Children with a sibling at the school
- Children of school staff
- Children living closest to the school
If you're currently 3rd on the waiting list and a child who has just moved into the area applies and meets one of these criteria better, that child can move ahead of you and you may drop to 4th.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I find out where I am on a school's waiting list? Most schools don't share waiting list positions because the list keeps changing. You might be 1st one day and drop to 3rd the next.
- When will my turn come? Nobody can say for sure. A place may come up when a student leaves or moves away, but there's no knowing when that will happen.
- My child has special circumstances; can they get priority outside the criteria? If your child has special circumstances, you can go through the appeal process. An independent panel considers why they should be admitted to the school. If they're persuaded, the school has to find a solution for you.
- How long can I stay on a waiting list? It depends on the school. Some schools renew the list every term, others every September.
- Can I be on more than one school's waiting list at the same time? Yes! You can be on as many schools' waiting lists as you like.
- What happens when my turn comes? The school will call you and ask you to decide within 24 hours. If you don't reply, the place is offered to the next student.
Tips for Parents on the Waiting List
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Research the school's admission criteria carefully.
Every school's oversubscription criteriais different. To understand your own priority, look at the admission policy section on schools' websites. -
Remember that waiting list positions can change.
Your position can keep changing as new applications come in. Being 2nd today doesn't guarantee you'll be the next student admitted. -
Consider other options.
Rather than waiting on a list for a long time, you can apply to other schools to create different opportunities for your child. -
Use your right of appeal.
If you have strong reasons why your child should be admitted to that school, you can go through the appeal process (appeal). -
Keep in touch with schools.
Rather than waiting passively on the list, follow up by contacting the school at regular intervals.
Conclusion: Managing the Waiting List Process Well
School waiting lists in England are a dynamic system and can sometimes be stressful for parents. But by managing the process well, you can help your child get the best education.
In summary:
- Waiting lists are ordered by the school's admission criteria, not by application date.
- Stay in touch with schools and remember that your position can change.
- Consider alternative schools and keep the appeal process in mind.
- Follow the process actively to plan your child's education in the best way.
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