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Schools and education

School admissions and fair access

For all 'in-year' applications, additional information is taken into account when allocating places.

This includes if the pupil has:

  • a low level of attendance at their current or previous school(s) - currently less than 50% attendance
  • repeated suspensions or exclusions within the last 12 months at their current or previous school(s)
  • any involvement with key services/agencies
  • recently been home educated
  • any other information available from their current or previous school(s)

The Fair Access Protocol

The 'Fair Access Protocol' applies to pupils who meet one or more of the above criteria and enables the local authority to consider which would best meet the needs of the pupil.

The aim of the Protocol is that all pupils are allocated the right school or alternative full-time education as soon as possible after submitting an application for a school place. In consultation with other admission authorities for York schools (including voluntary aided and academy schools), we attempt to meet one of the parent/carers' preferences.

The following factors are taken into consideration:

  • the number of pupils in the year group
  • the number of pupils the school has recently taken under the Fair Access Protocol
  • the parent/carers' preferred schools
  • whether the school is within a reasonable distance of the home address
  • transport links to schools with places

For Secondary-aged pupils, decisions are made on a monthly basis by the Fair Access Meeting (FAM), made up of representatives from the local authority and each secondary school in York.

For Primary-aged pupils, discussions take place between the local authority and schools (and in some circumstances by a group of schools within the area of the city where the pupil lives), as well as any schools the parent/carer has expressed a preference for.

For Primary-aged pupils, discussions are made on a half termly basis by the Primary Fair Access Meeting (PFAM), made up of representatives from the local authority and each secondary school in York.

Read the current CYC Fair Access Protocol.

Also see

Education Support Services

West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA

Telephone: 01904 551554