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 parents have nominated.

The LAs system for online applications will become 'live' from the 13 November 2023 to midnight on the 15 January 2024 with the closing date for return of CAFs also the 15 January 2024. Packs for admission to Primary School will be distributed to all parents. Applications are to be made on common application form and all applications returned to LA.

During the week commencing the 29 January 2024 - 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 authority/authorities.

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

During the week ending the 4 March 2024 VA schools, Academies and other LAs inform the home 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, look to see where 2nd or 3rd 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 VA, Academies and other LAs schools until the allocation of places is resolved for each application, as required.

By week commencing the 18 March 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 the 16 April 2024 (or the next working day) the LA will post (2nd class) out a letter to parents informing them of their child's allocated school. If they have applied on line they will receive an email on the 16 April or next working day. The letter will tell them which school has been allocated and 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.