Independent school funded by the government. The governing body of an academy decides its own policy on admissions and has responsibility for deciding who is given a place.
Admission appeal
Where a parent is not offered a place at a school for which they have expressed a preference, they have a legal right for their preference to
be further considered by an independent appeal panel.
Admission arrangements
All the procedures, criteria and publications which must be put in place by an admissions authority in order to process applications for
admission to school. Admissions arrangements will determine whether a child qualifies for admission to school.
Admission criteria
The rules which govern who should and should not be offered a place at an oversubscribed school.
Admissions authority
The body responsible for determining the admissions arrangements for a school. This can be the local authority (LA) or the governing
body of a school.
Common Application Form (TCAF, PCAF or ICAF)
This is the application form that invites three preferences and supporting reasons. This form must be completed to apply for any Kirklees
school.
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Community and voluntary controlled schools
Community and voluntary controlled schools are funded by Kirklees Council with the head teacher and governing body responsible for
running the school. The admission arrangements are determined and administered by the council.
Co-ordinated scheme for admission to school
This is a method for determining, from potential offers of school places, which is going to be the single offer of a school place
communicated to parents.
For co-ordinated schemes agreed for Kirklees residents, the highest ranked potential offer as determined from the common
application form will be the single offer of a school place.
Foundation schools
Funded by Kirklees Council. The governing body of the school decides its own admissions policy and has responsibility for deciding who is given a place at the school. Places at the school are offered by Kirklees on behalf of the governors.
Free schools
Free schools are like academies. They are independent schools funded by the Government. The governing body of the free school decides its own admissions policy and has responsibility for deciding who is given a place at the school. Places at the school are offered by Kirklees on behalf of the governors.
Home authority
The local authority in which the parent resides.
Maintaining authority
The local authority in which a school is located and which has responsibility for it.
Net capacity
The net capacity of a school is the number of pupil places available.
Notice of appeal
The form to be completed by the parent and submitted to the authority to request an independent appeal for a school at which they have
not been offered a place.
Offer Day
The single day in each year on which an authority’s single offer of a school place is sent to parents. This is 20 April 2012 for children transferring to junior or middle school and for children starting reception.
Order of preference
The order in which parents have to list their three preferences to enable the local authority to determine the single offer of a school
place.
Oversubscribed
Where the number of applications for the year group exceeds the Published Admission Number (PAN).
Preferences
The schools which parents indicate to the local authority they would wish their child to attend above all others.
Published Admission Number (PAN)
Published Admission Number. A PAN is determined in consultation with each school based on the net capacity. This is the number of pupils
that must be admitted to a school if sufficient applications are received.
Qualify for a school place
This is where a child can be offered a place at a school either because:
the number of applications for the school is below the admission number; or
it is oversubscribed but the child has priority under the admission criteria when compared to other children.
Single offer of a school place
The one offer of a school place at the highest preference school where the child qualifies.
Supplementary Information Form (SIF)
All parents who list their preferred schools on the local authority's PCAF or TCAF are regarded as having made valid applications. A
supplementary information form (SIF) is an additional form that a voluntary aided school requires to enable the governing body to apply
the school's admission criteria.
Funded by Kirklees Council, trust schools are Foundation schools supported by a charitable trust. The governing body of the trust school decides its own admissions policy and has responsibility for deciding who is given a place at the school. Places at the school are offered by Kirklees on behalf of the Governors.
Voluntary aided schools
Voluntary aided schools are jointly funded by Kirklees Council and a voluntary organisation, usually a church diocesan board. The head
teacher and governing body run the school. The admission arrangements are determined and administered by the governing body. Catholic
schools are voluntary aided schools.