School Admissions Policy 2026 -27

Admissions Outside the Normal Admissions Arrangements (Transferring between schools)

Where applications fall outside of the normal admission arrangements as seen in part 10, applications are processed in line with the following arrangements.

Changing schools requires serious consideration and should be fully discussed with the Headteacher of a child’s present school in the first instance. The parent/guardian needs to consider if moving school is in the child’s best interests. The Department for Education and Children will also provide advice if required.

Should a parent/guardian wish to transfer a child from one school to another, the online admission application form must be completed.

It is not always possible to offer pupils a place in a year group at a school outside of the normal admissions round, as all available places may have already been allocated to pupils at an earlier time (i.e., earlier requests to move school for the academic year/previous academic years, or during the normal admissions round).

Moving into a school’s catchment area does not guarantee a place at the school. Having a sibling being offered or admitted to a school does not guarantee a school place for other siblings. Where there are multiple children from one household requesting a move to a school, it may not be possible to offer a school place to all of the children in the same school if some year groups are already over its admission number.

Applications received prior to a new Academic Year for which the application is for will be processed in the Summer term before the Academic Year starts.

Applications received during the Academic Year should be assessed, and parents/guardians notified of a decision within 15 school days or 28 calendar days (whichever is sooner) if the application has been successful or not. All applications are processed in accordance with the Welsh Government Admissions Code.

If an offer of a place is made, parents are required to accept or decline the offer of a place. Once accepted, a space at the school will be kept until the end of the term in which they are due to start.

The offer of a place will be removed and re-allocated to other pupils if:

• The offer of a place is not accepted within the given allotted time specified in the offer letter,
  or
• The child does not physically start by the end of that term for which they applied.

Parents seeking to postpone their start date longer than one term will be asked to re-apply for a school place.

A pupil moving into the county will be placed on roll at the new school in Carmarthenshire on the start date noted on the offer email.

Applications for children identified as either a Child Looked After or previously a Child Looked After; or with an Individual Development Plan will need to be verified before processing. Applications will be considered in accordance with the admission procedures and policies detailed in this document. Should there be more applications than places available, the Authority will prioritize applications in accordance with its over-subscription criteria detailed in this document.

Should parents be unsuccessful in obtaining a place for their child at their preferred school, they will be notified by email of the reason(s) why a place has not been offered. The decision email will also state their right to appeal against that decision and the process of how to appeal, including the closing date to appeal. More information on the appeals process is detailed in this document.

Waiting Lists for Applications Outside of the Normal Admissions Arrangements

Applications that have been unsuccessful in gaining a place of choice are kept on the waiting list until the last school day of the Academic Year for which they applied. Parents must email admissions@carmarthenshire.gov.uk for their child to be placed on the waiting list.