Published on
3 November 2025
Have your say on proposed changes to primary, infant and junior school admissions (2027/2028)
How school places are allocated could be changed under new proposals
How primary, infant and junior school places are allocated could be changed under new proposals.
Wokingham Borough Council has launched a consultation on several proposed changes to local authority school admissions, which if approved, would be implemented for the school year 2027/28.
The changes include a shift from catchment areas to a direct distance-to-school model. This would be calculated by drawing a straight line from the school to the child’s home address and would mean children living close to the school would be prioritised.
Other proposals include removing the medical/social needs criterion and giving priority to children of school staff employed for over two years – an approach which is already being used by many local authorities and academies across England.
The council is also looking to move the deadline for submitting evidence of house moves and other documents for secondary school applications from 31 December to 30 November, aligning Wokingham’s deadline with neighbouring local authorities.
If there are more applications than available places, the following order of priority is being proposed. For all criteria, distance would be measured as a straight line from the child’s home address to the school.
- Looked after or previously looked after children (children who are, or who have been in the care of the local authority)
- Children attending an attached infant school (for junior school applications to Year 3)
- Children of school staff (employed for two years or more)
- Siblings of existing pupils
- Distance from home to school (straight-line measurement)
More information about the proposals, including background information, can be viewed on the Engage Wokingham Borough website.
Cllr Prue Bray, executive member for children’s services, said: “Each year we review our admissions processes for the council’s local authority maintained schools. This latest round of proposals hopes to give families better access to schools close to where they live, while rewarding long-standing school staff with a secure place for their children.
“It is important that we hear your views on these proposals so we can understand how they may impact you. It also gives us the opportunity to address any concerns you may have. Please take the time to have your say.”
You can give your views on the consultation by visiting the Engage Wokingham Borough website and responding to the survey by 15 December.
For anyone needing help with the survey, contact the council’s customer service team on 0118 974 6000 or drop by one of the borough’s libraries.
