Every school that admits pupils from outside its immediate catchment publishes an admissions prospectus — a document explaining entry criteria, how places are allocated, and what the school offers. Knowing how to read it critically is one of the most useful things a parent can do before open evening or submitting an application.
What is the difference between a school prospectus and an admissions policy?
Many schools produce two distinct documents, and confusing them is a common mistake.
The school prospectus (or school brochure) is a marketing document. It highlights the school's ethos, curriculum, extracurricular programme, exam results, and facilities. It is designed to attract families and is often visually impressive. However, it contains almost no binding information about who gets in.
The admissions policy (sometimes called the oversubscription criteria or the admission arrangements) is the legally binding document. It sets out in precise terms how the school will allocate places when more children apply than places exist. This is the document that actually determines whether your child will be offered a place.
Parents must read both, but should make decisions based on the admissions policy rather than the prospectus.
What are oversubscription criteria and how do they work?
When a school receives more applications than it has places, it uses a ranked list of criteria to decide who gets in. These criteria are published in the admissions policy and must follow the national School Admissions Code.
Common criteria, in a typical priority order:
| Priority | Criterion | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Looked-after and previously looked-after children | Children in local authority care; children who have left care through adoption |
| 2 | Children with a sibling at the school | Usually defined as a full, half, or step-sibling on the register at the time of the child's entry |
| 3 | Children in a defined catchment area | Determined by straight-line or road distance to the school's main gate |
| 4 | Medical or social needs | A specific, professionally documented need for a particular school |
| 5 | Distance from school | Closest applicants receive a place if numbers allow |
Faith schools add criteria around church attendance or baptism. Grammar schools add passing the selective test. Each school's criteria are specific to that school — parents must read the actual policy, not assume it matches another school's criteria.
What is the last-distance-offered figure and why does it matter?
Most admissions policies include historical data showing the furthest distance at which a place was offered in the previous year. This figure is sometimes called the last distance offered or the furthest distance admitted.
If a school's last-distance-offered figure in the previous year was 0.6 miles, any family living more than 0.6 miles away is unlikely to receive a place in the coming year unless they hold a higher-priority criterion (such as a sibling). The figure changes year on year depending on applications, births, and family movements.
This is one of the most practically useful numbers in the entire admissions process, and it is often buried at the back of the policy or available only on the local authority's admissions statistics page.
How to use it: Measure the straight-line distance from your home to the school's main entrance using the local authority's distance calculator (usually available on their website) and compare it to the previous year's last-distance figure.
What should you look for in a faith school admissions policy?
Faith school admission criteria typically include one or more of the following:
- Baptism certificates (with a specified age by which baptism must have occurred)
- Attendance records at a named church or mosque for a specified period (often 1–2 years prior to application)
- A reference from a minister of religion
- Membership of a congregation as defined by the denomination
These criteria are usually tiered — for example, a Catholic school might prioritise practising Catholics who attend Mass weekly, then less frequent Mass-goers, then non-practising Catholics, and finally other applicants. Understanding which tier your family falls into determines the realistic likelihood of a place.
Faith schools must comply with the national Admissions Code and cannot discriminate on grounds of race or nationality, only on grounds of religious practice.
What information should the prospectus confirm about the curriculum?
Beyond admissions, a school's prospectus or website should answer several curriculum-related questions that matter for choosing the right school:
- Does the school offer a three-year KS3 (Years 7–9) or a two-year KS3 (Years 7–8, beginning GCSEs in Year 9)?
- Which GCSE subjects are available at options time?
- Is there a sixth form on site, and if so, which A-level subjects are offered?
- Does the school offer the EBacc pathway, and does it require it of all pupils?
- What specialist subjects or facilities does the school have (for example, a performing arts specialism or a full STEM suite)?
A prospectus that does not clearly answer these questions is worth following up with the school directly.
What questions should parents ask at open evening?
The open evening is the opportunity to ask the questions the prospectus does not answer:
- What is the school's average Progress 8 score, and how does that compare to similar schools locally?
- How does the school handle pupils who need additional support — is there a dedicated learning support team?
- What happens at Year 9 options time — are there any compulsory options?
- How does the school communicate with parents about their child's progress?
- What is the school's policy on setting and streaming?
The answers reveal far more about a school's culture and priorities than the brochure does.
Frequently asked questions
Does a school have to publish its admissions policy?
Yes. All state-funded schools, including academies, free schools, and grammar schools, are required to publish their admissions policy on their website every year by 15 March for the following academic year. Local authorities must also publish the composite prospectus — a summary of all schools' admission arrangements in the area — by 12 September each year.
Can admissions policies change from year to year?
Yes. Schools can propose changes to their oversubscription criteria, but must consult their community and follow the statutory process for changes. Any proposed changes for one year must be consulted on by 1 October of the year before and confirmed by 28 February. This means the policy advertised in September applies to applications made in the following October.
What is a supplementary information form?
Some schools — particularly faith schools and those with selective criteria — require parents to complete a supplementary information form (SIF) in addition to the local authority application. The SIF collects additional information relevant to the school's criteria, such as church attendance records or medical certificates. Completing the local authority application alone is not sufficient if a SIF is required; missing the SIF deadline can result in being treated as a non-priority applicant.
What if the admissions policy seems unclear or confusing?
Parents can ask the local authority or the school's admissions officer to explain any aspect of the policy. The School Admissions Code requires that policies be written in plain English and be accessible to parents. The Office of the Schools Adjudicator can receive objections if a school's policy does not comply with the Code.
For guidance on secondary school preparation and subject choices ahead of Year 7 entry, visit aitutors.me.