The Sutton Trust champions social mobility through programmes, research and policy influence; they also advocate for fairer admissions policies in schools across England.
The York Schools and Academies Board (YSAB) have committed to the Fair School Admissions Pledge and Award.
The Sutton Trust Pledge
The Sutton Trust have worked with York Schools and Academies Board (YSAB) who are committed to the Fair School Admissions Pledge to review their existing policies and make relevant changes to help improve the inclusivity of their schools.
The Sutton Trust Award
The Sutton Trust have worked with York Schools and Academies Board (YSAB) who are committed to the Fair School Admissions Award.
As a result, we have committed to a range of actions within our schools to assist with inclusivity and accessibility within schools, consistent signposting to support services and within some schools a change within Admission Arrangements.
The Sutton Trust award Bronze, Silver and Gold award categories to recognise the different levels of progress schools will have made, from reviewing intakes and policies, to making changes to admissions policies.
York Schools and Academies Board has committed to The Sutton Trust Fair School Admissions Pledge and Award and we hope to show our commitments and the agreed actions below.
As a result, we have committed to a range of actions within our schools to:
- assist with inclusivity and accessibility within schools
- consistent signposting to support services
- changes to admission arrangements within some schools
York Schools and Academies Board actions
The agreed actions for schools and academies in the YSAB area, arising from work with The Sutton Trust relate to 3 key principles:
- Providing information, advice, guidance and support to families in relation to the financial cost of school.
- Supporting families with information, advice and guidance relating to support available in York.
- Reviewing admissions arrangements and (where determined) increasing access to Secondary Schools for pupils eligible for Pupil Premium and Service Pupil Premium (which specifically supports children with parents in the armed forces).
Financial cost of school
All schools in the YSAB area must comply with DfE statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms, with a view to reviewing the cost of school uniforms.
They must also provide information on their website for parent, carers and families to:
- advise on uniform suppliers
- give details of 'preloved' uniform options
- set out any uniform assistance available in schools
Schools must also:
- promote user-friendly and accessible information about the Free School Meal (FSM) application process
- actively encourage FSM applications from all parent and carers for all children, including those eligible for universal FSM in reception, Year 1 and Year 2
- provide details of any costs within the academic year, within the first half term
- give at least 2 months’ notice of any monies (not included within the start of term list) required by school such as for an unscheduled trip (this will ordinarily allow families with 2 pay-cycles within which to make a payment)
- provide details of school trips for each year group with payment deadline to be shared within the first half term, including information about who parent, carers and families can contact in cases of financial difficulty
Signposts to support in York
A Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) must be available at Secondary School open evenings.
All school websites must have (presented as separate pages, or a collated page):
- dedicated information about Special Education Needs (SEN)
- easily accessible information linking to key support for traveller families
- easily accessible information linking all key support for service families
We've provided links to sources of local and national support which align to the 3 key principles; you can also visit:
- Live Well York for resources for community support and social care in York
- Raise York for resources for children, young people, families, communities and professionals
Money and benefits links:
- Get the money that you are entitled to; see out Benefits web pages
- Local advice services related to benefits and money
- Change of circumstances and your benefit entitlement
School uniform links:
School meal and food links
- Eligibility for free school meals
- How to apply for free school meals
- Apply for free school meals (GOV.UK)
- Holiday activities and food programme 2025 to 2026 (GOV.UK)
- Holiday Activities and Food
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities links:
- York SEND Local Offer website
- Download: York inclusion and belonging special educational needs and alternative provision strategy 2025-2030
- SEND CENTRAL - is York’s Family Hub that specialises in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- York SENDIASS website
- Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): Overview (GOV.UK)
Links for traveller families:
Links for service families:
- Armed Forces Covenant
- Support services for military and defence personnel and their families (GOV.UK)