Coordinated admission arrangements timetable 2024

The LA will act as a clearing house for the allocation of places by the relevant admission authorities in response to the CAFs. The LA will only make any decision with respect to the offer or refusal of a place in response to any preference expressed on the CAF where:

• it is acting in its separate capacity as an admission authority, or;
• an applicant is eligible for a place at more than one school, or;
• an applicant is not eligible for a place at any school that the parent has nominated.

The LAs system for online applications will become 'live' from the 11 September 2023 to midnight on the 31 October 2023 with the closing date for return of CAFs also the 31 October 2023.

During the week commencing 13 November 2023 the LA will notify the admission authority for each of the schools of every application that has been made for that school. Where parents have requested a place at a school outside of the LA area, the information will be forwarded to the relevant admission authority/authorities.

VA schools and Academies to make arrangements to gather information required from parents and set up admission committees for allocation of places.

Week commencing 1 January 2024 - VA schools, other LAs and Academies, inform LA of allocation of places for all applications received in the priority order of their admission policy. Any applications which are refused also need to be listed in order of priority.

The LA compares lists and considers all preferences from the parent and if first preference is refused then will look to see where second , third or fourth preferences can be accommodated. The lists will be sent back to the VA schools and Academies for their approval before finalising allocations. Liaison will take place with VAs, other LAs and Academies until the allocation of places is resolved for each application, as required.

By 31 January 2024 - the LA will match ranked lists for all schools and:

• where the child is eligible for a place at only one of the nominated schools, that school will be allocated to the child;
• where the child is eligible for a place at two or more of the nominated schools, they will be allocated a place at whichever of these is the highest ranked preference;
• where the child is not eligible for a place at any of the nominated schools, they will be offered a place at the nearest appropriate school with a vacancy or asked to contact School Admissions for an alternative school.

On 1 March 2024 (or the next working day) the LA will post letters (second class post) to parents to let them know which school has been allocated to their child. If they have applied on line they will receive an email on the 1 March or the next working day. The letter will also tell them of their statutory right to appeal if they have been refused a place at their preferred school.

Parents will need to request an appeal form and return to Appeals Administrator, Corporate Administration Service, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, PO Box 11, Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LD within 20 school days upon receipt of the form.