Understanding the Fair Access Protocol
The school admissions code requires each local authority to have a fair access protocol. All schools and academies must participate in their local authority’s protocol. This ensures that unplaced children, especially the most vulnerable, are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. This includes admitting children to schools that are already full.
The fair access protocol is designed to ensure children who find themselves in challenging circumstances are found school places and outlines the arrangements to support this. It is not intended to cover the majority of children for whom in-year admissions are straightforward and for whom normal admission arrangements apply.
Please read the full Fair Access Protocol (PDF document) for more information.
