Variation to the 2022 Determined Admission Arrangements for Trafford's Community and Voluntary Aided Schools

Once admission arrangements have been determined for a particular school year, they cannot be revised by the admission authority unless such revision is necessary to give effect to a mandatory requirement of this Code, admissions law, a determination of the Schools Adjudicator or any misprint in the admission arrangements

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator has considered the 2022 determined admission arrangements and has found that the admission arrangements, as they relate to applicants claiming shared residency do not comply with the requirements of the School Admissions Code.  You can read the full determination on the OSA Website Trafford Council: 13 October 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The relevant provisions of the admission arrangements for the schools previously read:

 “Home address

 The criteria used by Trafford in determining admissions to community and voluntary controlled schools refer, in every instance, to the child's home address. This means the address where the child normally and permanently lives, not the address of any child carer, grandparent or other relative. It is always assumed that the correct factual information will be provided when an application for a school place is submitted. However, proof of the child’s residency may be requested so that the application can be considered correctly alongside other applicants.

In the case of parents who are separated, the application will also be considered from the address where the child normally and permanently lives, even though the child may regularly spend some time at another address. Where it is claimed that the residency is shared equally between two addresses, the applicant will be required to submit documentary evidence to support the claim.

If it is determined that the child does live at both residences equally, the following criteria will be applied:

  1. Where the child lives equally at two residences in the catchment area, the child will be considered as living in the catchment area.
  2. Where the child lives equally at two residences and one is outside the catchment area, the child will be considered as living outside the catchment area.
  3. In the event that there are more applications than places available, within either category, the average of the distances of the two residences will be used for the purposes of determining the level of priority within each category.” 

 The Policy now reads:

“Home Address

The criteria used by Trafford in determining admissions to Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools refer, in every instance, to the child's home address. This means the address where the child lives most of the time, not the address of any child-carer, grandparent or other relative. 

It is always assumed that the correct factual information will be provided when an application for a school place is submitted. However, proof of the child’s residency may be requested so that the application can be considered correctly alongside other applicants. The documentation required is not prescribed and applicants can submit whatever evidence is available, that is sufficient to demonstrate the claim. 

In the case of parents who are separated the application will also be considered from the address where the child lives, even though the child may regularly spend some time at another address. Where it is claimed that the child’s residency is shared equally between two addresses parents may decide which address will be used for the purpose of the application.”

Trafford has also published a consultation document for the 2023 admission arrangements.  The proposed arrangements have also been amended to reflect this required change.