We can advise your school on your admission arrangements; update policies; and support you with admission applications and appeals. If admission arrangements are unlawful, schools may face objections to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. We can support your school with representation at that stage, including advising on the merits and preparing a formal response. If there are procedural irregularities, schools may be subject to judicial review proceedings. Our team are well versed in successfully defending and mediating judicial reviews.
Our Education team have significant experience in drafting admissions policies, including setting out appropriate oversubscription criteria. We can answer any queries in relation to admissions practice (for example, admissions outside the normal age range) and support you with training. Our specialists can assist your school in challenging a Local Authority (LA)’s placements under its Fair Access Protocol, particularly in light of new LA powers of direction.
Admission authorities are responsible for submitting requests to vary admission arrangements to the OSA for maintained schools and to the DfE for academies, in circumstances where there has been a major change in circumstances. We can support you with this process to ensure compliance.
Furthermore, we are able to clerk Admissions Appeal Panels. We have considerable experience over many years having been instructed by a number of Local Authorities to represent them on their independent appeal panels. We are also able to advise a school on the merits of appeals and assist in preparing your statement on prejudice.