School Admissions Policy 2026 -27
In this section
- Introduction
- Admission Authorities
- The School’s Admission Number – A Limit on the Number of Pupils Admitted
- Catchment Areas
- Classification of Schools
- Admission Outside the Normal Chronological Year Group
- Home Education
- Choosing a School
- Meeting Additional Learning Needs (ALN)
- Normal Admissions Arrangements
- Admissions Outside the Normal Admissions Arrangements (Transferring between schools)
- Making an Application
- Over Subscription Criteria
- Appeals Regarding Admission of Pupils to Community / Voluntary Controlled Primary or Secondary Schools
- Schedule of Events Timetable for Normal Admissions Arrangements to Schools 2026-27
- Appendix A
The School’s Admission Number – A Limit on the Number of Pupils Admitted
Every school has an Admission Number (AN) which specifies and limits the number of pupils who can be admitted to each year group in the school. The AN for each school is given in the schedule of schools in Appendix A.
The AN for each school has been set by using the capacity formula determined by the Welsh Government. The calculation is based on national guidelines (Measuring the Capacity of Schools in Wales Circular 021/2011) and relates to the physical area of the school buildings, the type of facilities at the school, the age range, and the number of year groups in the school.
As the AN is based on the school’s capacity to provide appropriate accommodation and facilities for pupils, it should not be exceeded.
The AN applies to the age group into which the pupils are admitted into the school and places a limit on the number of pupils that can be admitted. In the normal year of entry, the Admissions Authority must admit pupils until the AN is reached. Should the number of applications received for admission to a school exceed the AN, then the Authority will prioritise the applications it has received in accordance with the oversubscription criteria detailed in this document.
In such circumstances, parents may not be successful in gaining a place for their child at their preferred school.
School governors and the Local Authority must always keep the AN under review.
