Primary schools national 'offer day' for places

Primary schools in England are to have a single, co-ordinated day for offering places, under a revised admissions code published by the government.

About 800,000 children will hear about their primary school places on the same day - following a similar national scheme for secondary schools.

The admissions rules will also be changed to make it easier for oversubscribed schools to expand.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said the new code brought "clarity and consistency".

The revised admissions code is intended to create a simpler and less bureaucratic approach to the process of applying and receiving school places.

The setting up of a single day for allocating primary school places will mean that parents across England will receive their offer at the same time, regardless of where they live.

The schools minister says this will make it less "confusing and stressful" for parents who are applying for school places in different local authorities, which might each have their own dates for offering places.

The new codes also remove the restriction on good schools being able to expand if they wish - a freedom that will provide more good school places”

It will follow the so-called National Offer Day for secondary schools, when places are allocated at the beginning of March following applications submitted by parents in the autumn.

Adopted children who have previously been in care will also have greater priority in applications, affecting about 3,000 children each year.

The revised code also confirms other proposed changes, such as making it easier for individual schools to increase their number of places, without needing the permission of local authorities.

Schools will also be able to give greater priority to the children of staff at the school.

There will be a ban on "area-wide" lotteries for places, such as within a local authority.

Free schools and academies will be able to prioritise applications from children eligible for free school meals.

The admissions process can be a fraught time for families as they seek places in schools which might be oversubscribed.

This year one in three families in London did not get their first preference of secondary school.

"The new admissions codes are slimmer, less repetitive and easier to read and use," said Mr Gibb.

"For these reasons alone they should help to reduce the stress confronting parents as they navigate the schools admissions system and find a place for their child.

"But the new codes also remove the restriction on good schools being able to expand if they wish - a freedom that will provide more good school places."