Wakefield District: Consultation on Wakefield School Admission Arrangement for 2027/2028

WAKEFIELD DISTRICT COUNCIL

CONSULTATION ON WAKEFIELD SCHOOL ADMISSION
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 2027/2028 ACADEMIC YEAR

Whilst there are no changes proposed to the School Admissions Policy Wakefield Council is currently consulting its School Admissions Arrangements for the 2027/2028 academic year and is inviting comments from parents of all children aged between 2 and 18 years old and any local Interest Groups

The consultation period is for 6 weeks between the period 8 December 2025 and 30 January 2026.

The Council’s Admissions Policy is for admission to Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools. A number of Trust Schools and Academies also adopt the Council’s Admissions Policy. The policy includes details of how places are prioritised if a school is oversubscribed.

Full details of the policy and the proposed changes can be viewed on the Council’s website by searching for School Admissions.

The Council’s proposed Admissions Policy sets out the proposed admission arrangements for the 2027/2028 school year and enables children to start school (either full time or part time) from the September following the child’s fourth birthday. The proposed policy continues to allow parents to defer entry until the term after the child’s fifth birthday.

Further information on the proposed admission arrangements and a hard copy of the policy can be requested from the Admissions Team by contacting 01924 305624.

Voluntary Aided (Church) Schools, Voluntary Academies, Foundation Schools, the schools which form part of the Education Ossett Community Trust and a number of Academies set their own admissions arrangements.

The Local Authority is proposing that admissions into Year 3 in 2027 into Southdale CE (VC) Junior School will be based on the Local Authority’s admissions policy rather than the admissions policy for the Education Ossett Community Trust.

Other foundation/trust schools and academies that are or were part of Education Ossett Community Trust may also be consulting on changes to their admission arrangements for 2027. Details of any consultation should be on the individual school/academy website.

Other foundation/trust Schools and academies within the Wakefield district may also be consulting on proposed changes to their admission arrangements for 2027/2028. Details of any consultation should be on the individual school/academy website.

Responses in relation to the Council’s proposed School Admission Arrangements should be sent in writing no later than 30 January 2026 to: The Policy Officer, School Admissions Team, Wakefield Council, Wakefield One, PO Box 700, Burton Street, Wakefield, WF1 2EB.

Email: KKpolicy@wakefield.gov.uk

Responses in relation to any policies being proposed by an Academy, Voluntary Aided (Church) School, Voluntary Academy or Foundation/Trust School should be sent directly to the Headteacher of the respective school or academy.

Relevant Areas

The Education (Relevant Areas for Consultation on Admission Arrangements) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No.124) require local authorities to determine relevant areas for consultation on admission arrangements. The Relevant Areas for schools maintained by Wakefield District Council is as follows: For Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools, the Relevant Area is the entire administrative district served by Wakefield District Council.

For Voluntary Aided, Foundation, Academies and Voluntary Academies the Relevant Area for consultation is Wakefield District Council and admission authorities within a radius of 3 miles of the school, including admission authorities in neighbouring local authority areas. It is proposed that relevant areas for consultation remain unchanged.