SV ACADEMY ADMISSIONS POLICY

Compulsory School-Age / Statutory & Commissioned Provision and Post-16

1. Statement of Intent

SV Academy is committed to a fair, safe, inclusive and transparent admissions process. The Academy is academically non-selective in its compulsory school-age provision and seeks to ensure that admission decisions are based on the suitability of the placement, the needs and safety of the student, the Academy's registered provision and capacity, and the relevant commissioning or funding arrangements.

SV Academy provides different routes for compulsory school-age / statutory and commissioned provision and for Post-16 provision. These routes have different legal, funding, registration and accountability requirements and must be managed separately.

All admissions and enrolments at SV Academy are by appointment. SV Academy does not operate a walk-in admission process. A referral or application does not itself create a place: a placement or programme must be considered, an appointment completed, and an agreed start date confirmed. Where an urgent statutory or safeguarding need requires a rapid start, the appointment process may be expedited by the Headteacher or Executive Headteacher with the decision recorded.

2. Purpose and Scope

This policy applies to prospective students, parents/carers, referring schools, local authorities, commissioners and staff involved in admissions across SV Academy. It covers admission decisions and the creation and maintenance of the statutory admission register where applicable.

The Admissions Policy should be read alongside the SV Academy Enrolment Policy. In simple terms, admission is the decision that a place or programme can be offered; enrolment is the appointment-based process through which the student is onboarded, required information is checked, responsibilities are agreed and the start is confirmed.

• To ensure that admissions are lawful, fair, timely and in the student's best interests.

• To distinguish clearly between compulsory school-age / commissioned placements and Post-16 admission.

• To prevent inappropriate delay where a child or young person is out of education or has an urgent safeguarding need.

• To ensure that safeguarding, SEND, attendance, medical and risk information is considered before a placement starts wherever reasonably practicable.

• To ensure admission and registration records are accurate and maintained in accordance with current requirements.

3. Legal and Guidance Framework

SV Academy will apply this policy in accordance with its legal status, registered age range, approved capacity and the requirements applicable to the relevant provision. The principal framework includes:

• Education Act 1996.

• Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, as amended.

• School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024.

• Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years.

• Equality Act 2010.

• Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004.

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026.

• Children Missing Education statutory guidance, current version.

• Alternative Provision statutory guidance, current version.

• Department for Education 16 to 19 funding rules for the current funding year.

• UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.

4. Leadership and Responsibilities

The Directors retain proprietor-level responsibility for ensuring that the Academy operates within its registration, legal and contractual framework.

The Executive Headteacher provides strategic oversight of admissions, including capacity, policy compliance, commissioning relationships, equality, safeguarding themes and significant or disputed cases.

The Headteacher is responsible for day-to-day operation of the admissions process, ensuring that referrals and applications are considered promptly, required information is obtained, staff responsibilities are clear and no student starts without appropriate admission and enrolment arrangements.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) must be involved where safeguarding information, care status, exploitation, trafficking, missing education, age concerns or other welfare risks are identified.

The SENCO is involved where SEND, an EHC plan, significant learning needs or reasonable adjustments need to be considered.

Admissions, administration and Post-16 staff are responsible for accurate records, identity/contact information, funding or commissioner evidence, and escalation of discrepancies.

5. Admission Routes

The route must be established at the outset because it determines who is responsible for commissioning, registration, attendance, funding, review and transition.

6. Non-Selective and Inclusive Admissions

SV Academy is academically non-selective in its compulsory school-age provision. Non-selective does not mean that every referral must be accepted. A placement may only proceed where it falls within the Academy's registered age range and approved provision, there is appropriate capacity, the placement can be delivered safely, and any required commissioning and funding arrangements are in place.

Admission decisions must not unlawfully discriminate because of disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, or any other protected characteristic. SEND, disability, care experience, prior exclusion, offending history, asylum or refugee status, low prior attainment or disrupted education must not by themselves be used as reasons to refuse admission.

Where a student is disabled, SV Academy will consider reasonable adjustments and the support that can reasonably be provided. Where a placement cannot safely or appropriately meet need even after reasonable adjustments and professional advice have been considered, the reasons will be recorded and discussed with the applicant or commissioner as appropriate.

7. Appointment-Only Admissions

All admissions are by appointment. The purpose of the appointment is to confirm the correct provision route, review the referral or application, understand the student's needs and aspirations, complete safeguarding and support checks, explain expectations and confirm whether an offer can be made.

Appointments should normally include the student and, depending on age and circumstances, a parent/carer, social worker, commissioner, key worker or other appropriate adult. An unaccompanied young person will not be disadvantaged because a parent or conventional identity document is unavailable.

• A referral or application is logged and screened.

• The correct route, registered age range and current capacity are checked.

• Required education, safeguarding, SEND, health, risk and contact information is requested.

• An admission/enrolment appointment is completed.

• The proposed placement or programme is considered for suitability and safety.

• Any reasonable adjustments, risk controls or support arrangements are agreed.

• A written offer or commissioner confirmation is issued where appropriate.

• An agreed start date is confirmed and the student is added to the correct systems/registers from the legally required point.

8. Compulsory School-Age / Statutory and Commissioned Provision

Compulsory school-age placements will normally arise through a referral or commissioning arrangement with a school, local authority or other responsible body. The commissioner should define the purpose of the placement, intended outcomes, expected duration and review arrangements.

Before the placement starts, SV Academy will seek clarity about the student's roll status and which organisation retains statutory accountability. The arrangement may involve sole registration at SV Academy, dual registration, or attendance at SV as commissioned provision while the student remains registered elsewhere, depending on the lawful arrangement.

The commissioner should provide relevant safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, SEND, medical and risk information before the placement starts wherever possible. Lack of routine paperwork should not create unnecessary delay in an urgent safeguarding case, but any missing information and interim controls must be recorded.

SV Academy will not accept a compulsory school-age placement that falls outside its registered age range or approved provision unless any required regulatory approval has first been obtained.

9. SEND and EHC Plans

SEND and disability are considered as support and access matters, not as automatic barriers to admission. The SENCO will advise where a student has significant needs, an EHC plan or requires reasonable adjustments.

Where a local authority is considering SV Academy as a placement for a child or young person with an EHC plan, the Academy will respond to consultation, provide relevant information about whether it can meet need, and work with the local authority and commissioner to agree provision and funding where appropriate.

Staff must not assume that every independent school is subject to the same statutory admission direction arrangements as a maintained school, academy or section 41-approved setting. Any legal duty to admit will be checked against SV Academy's status and the specific circumstances.

10. Safeguarding and Risk Information

Safeguarding is integral to admission. Information required before admission may include current safeguarding concerns, child protection involvement, social worker details, looked-after status, exploitation or trafficking concerns, harmful behaviour, significant medical needs, missing episodes and risks to or from the student.

Safeguarding information must be shared securely and only with staff who need it. Where information indicates that the student or another person may be at immediate risk, the DSL must act without waiting for the admission process to be completed.

A risk assessment may be required before the student attends. Risk assessment must be proportionate and must not be used as a disguised means of excluding a student because of disability, SEND, care experience or other protected status.

11. Post-16 Admissions

Post-16 admission is separate from compulsory school-age commissioning. Students may apply directly, be referred by a professional or be recruited through appropriate outreach. All applicants must complete an appointment before enrolment and programme start.

Post-16 admission will consider programme suitability, prior learning, English and maths needs, careers and progression goals, support requirements, attendance expectations, funding eligibility and any qualification-specific entry requirements. Any entry criteria must be transparent, proportionate and non-discriminatory.

For 2026 to 2027 funding, students aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August 2026 are generally within the 16 to 18 funding cohort, subject to the detailed rules. Certain continuing students and young people aged 19 to 24 with EHC plans may also be eligible under the current funding framework.

Current DfE rules include asylum seekers aged up to and including 18 among groups that may be eligible for 16 to 19 funding, subject to the detailed rules. Staff must check eligibility for the individual case and retain appropriate audit evidence. No applicant should be promised public funding before eligibility has been established.

Where current funding rules prohibit compulsory enrolment or registration charges for an eligible funded student, SV Academy will not impose such charges.

12. Asylum-Seeking, Refugee and Unaccompanied Young People

SV Academy welcomes lawful applications and referrals from asylum-seeking, refugee and unaccompanied young people. Their circumstances may include disrupted education, trauma, language needs, temporary accommodation, care involvement and limited access to documents.

A lack of conventional identity documentation must not automatically result in refusal. Staff will record available evidence, seek relevant information from the responsible local authority, social worker or other agency, and apply the Academy's safeguarding and funding procedures.

Where a genuine concern arises about a young person's stated age, staff must follow the SV Academy Enrolment Policy. SV Academy does not conduct its own informal age assessment. Concerns are recorded factually and escalated to the DSL, Headteacher and, in significant or disputed cases, the Executive Headteacher, with referral to the responsible local authority / statutory age-assessment route as appropriate.

13. Information Required for Admission

Information collected will be proportionate to the route and purpose of admission. It may include:

• Full legal name and the name the student uses at school.

• Date of birth, sex and current address.

• Parent/carer names, addresses and emergency contact details where applicable.

• Previous school or education provider and current roll status.

• UPN and/or ULN where applicable and available.

• Attendance, prior attainment, qualifications and baseline information.

• SEND, EHC plan, communication and reasonable-adjustment information.

• Medical, medication and emergency health information relevant to safe education.

• Safeguarding, social care, looked-after / care status and risk information.

• Funding, residency or immigration evidence where required for Post-16 funding.

The absence of a non-essential identifier such as a UPN or ULN must not by itself prevent an otherwise appropriate urgent placement. Missing information should be pursued and recorded.

14. Admission Decisions and Offers

Admission decisions will be made by appropriately authorised staff. Complex, disputed, high-risk or strategically significant cases should be escalated to the Headteacher and, where appropriate, the Executive Headteacher.

An offer may be unconditional, or conditional on specific commissioner/funding confirmation, receipt of essential safeguarding information, agreed reasonable adjustments, risk controls, or another lawful requirement. Conditions must be clear and recorded.

Where admission is declined or deferred, the reason will be recorded. For commissioned placements the referring body will be informed promptly so that alternative arrangements can be considered. For Post-16 applicants, SV Academy will provide or signpost appropriate information, advice and guidance where another route may be more suitable.

15. Expected Start Date and First-Day Arrangements

A specific starting day will be agreed as part of the admission and enrolment process. For a pupil who is to be registered at SV Academy, the statutory admission register entry must be made on the starting day before or at the beginning of the first school session.

If a registered pupil does not attend on the agreed starting day, the Academy will not simply cancel the place or retrospectively change the start date. Staff will make prompt enquiries, follow the Attendance Policy, consider safeguarding and children-missing-education risks, and liaise with the commissioner/local authority where appropriate.

16. Statutory Admission Register

SV Academy will maintain its statutory admission register in accordance with the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. The register must be kept electronically, with a backup copy made at least monthly.

For each registered pupil, the register will contain the information required by law, including full name, name used at school, sex, address, date of birth, starting day, previous school (if any), parent details and prescribed emergency contact information. Where the Academy is aware that a pupil is or will be attending another school in circumstances covered by the regulations, the required details will also be recorded.

Where an entry is amended, the original and amended entries, the reason, date and person making the amendment must be preserved. Register entries are retained for six years from the date made, and backup copies for six years after the end of the school year to which they relate.

At non-standard transition points, SV Academy will make the required new-pupil return to the local authority within 5 days of a pupil being added to the admission register, unless a broader local arrangement applies.

17. Removal from the Admission Register and Off-Rolling

A pupil's name will be removed from the statutory admission register only where a lawful ground in the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 applies and all required steps have been completed. Deletion must not be backdated.

SV Academy will not use removal from roll to resolve attendance, SEND, safeguarding, behaviour, funding or placement difficulties. Off-rolling is unacceptable. Where the regulations require joint reasonable enquiries or local-authority involvement before deletion, these steps must be completed and documented.

Where a pupil is added to or removed from the admission register outside standard transition points, SV Academy will make the required return to the local authority and provide the prescribed information.

18. Uniform, Meals and Financial Circumstances

Uniform, free-school-meal status and family financial circumstances are not admission criteria. Requirements relating to dress, meals or equipment will be explained during enrolment and managed under the relevant Academy procedures. A student must not be refused admission simply because they are eligible for free school meals or because a family needs reasonable support with uniform or equipment.

19. Data Protection and Information Sharing

Admissions information will be collected, used, stored and shared in accordance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, safeguarding requirements and the SV Academy Information Sharing and Confidentiality Policy.

Information will be limited to what is relevant for admission, education, safeguarding, funding, statutory reporting and safe operation. Particularly sensitive information, including safeguarding, immigration and care-status information, will be restricted to those who need it.

20. Complaints and Review of Decisions

Questions about an admission decision should first be raised with the Headteacher or the member of staff identified in the decision communication. Commissioned-placement disputes should normally also involve the referring school or local authority.

A complaint about the way the admissions process was handled may be made under the SV Academy Complaints and Compliments Policy. This does not create a statutory admissions appeal where one does not otherwise exist.

21. Monitoring and Review

The Headteacher will monitor day-to-day compliance with this policy, including the quality and timeliness of admission decisions, register accuracy and first-day follow-up.

The Executive Headteacher will provide strategic oversight, including patterns in accepted, declined or deferred admissions; capacity; safeguarding and SEND themes; commissioner feedback; Post-16 recruitment and funding compliance; and any equality concerns.

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where legislation, statutory guidance, funding rules, Academy registration or the nature of provision changes.

Appendix A - Admission and Start Checklist

• [ ] Correct route confirmed: compulsory school-age / commissioned OR Post-16.

• [ ] Registered age range and current capacity checked.

• [ ] Referral/application and commissioner or applicant details logged.

• [ ] Identity, date of birth, address and contact information checked using available evidence.

• [ ] Current/previous school and roll status clarified where applicable.

• [ ] Safeguarding information requested and DSL involved where needed.

• [ ] SEND / EHC plan / reasonable adjustments considered.

• [ ] Medical and risk information considered.

• [ ] Post-16 programme, IAG and funding eligibility checked where applicable.

• [ ] Placement purpose, timetable, attendance and review arrangements agreed.

• [ ] Written offer / commissioner confirmation recorded.

• [ ] Enrolment appointment completed.

• [ ] Agreed start date recorded.

• [ ] Correct admission / learner records created and local-authority return made where required.

Appendix B - Key References

• School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 - legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/208/contents

• Children Missing Education: statutory guidance for local authorities and schools - gov.uk/government/publications/children-missing-education

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 - gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2

• Alternative Provision statutory guidance - gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision

• SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years - gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25

• Advice: funding rules for 16 to 19 provision 2026 to 2027 - gov.uk/government/publications/advice-funding-rules-for-16-to-19-provision/advice-funding-rules-for-16-to-19-provision-2026-to-2027

Policy reviewed and revised: September 2026