Consultation on the Changes to the Admissions Framework

What is it all about? The government has drawn up a draft schools admissions code to replace the current admissions and appeals codes, which it believes are bureaucratic and unclear. It acknowledges that the process of gaining a place at a child's chosen school can be confusing and stressful for families. The current codes fill more than 130 pages and include more than 660 mandatory requirements. The draft codes are a third of this size and set out in clearer terms what admission authorities must and must not do.

What are the main points? The full draft code can be viewed on the Department for Education's website, but some of the key changes are designed to remove duplication and unnecessary material as well as elements that led to admission authorities interpreting the codes in different ways. The new code aims to ensure that all school places are offered in a fair and lawful way.