Fair Access Policy 2025 to 2026 (reviewed June 2025)
Principles
The Protocol should not be used to avoid the normal in-year admissions process. A parent can apply for a place as an in-year admission at any point and is still entitled to an appeal when a place is not offered even when placed through the Protocol.
Panels will be held regularly to ensure that eligible children and young people secure a school placement as swiftly as possible. Schools must respond immediately to Panel requests for admission so that the admission of the pupil is not delayed.
The Protocol will ensure that no one school, Academy or Free School including those with available places, is asked to take a disproportionate number of children or young people who have been excluded from other schools, or who have challenging behaviour.
Schools must not insist on an appeal hearing being heard before admitting a child or young person.
All Heads and Principals should abide by the decisions and are bound by the provisions of the Protocol, with no exceptions. The Panel decisions will be communicated by the Chair.
An application to direct an Academy from the Secretary of State should only be requested as a last resort.
