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THE ACADEMY, SELSEY

ADMISSIONS POLICY SEPTEMBER 2025 ENTRY

ADMISSIONS TO YEAR 7

Arrangements for applications for places in Year 7 at The Academy, Selsey will be made in

accordance with West Sussex’s co-ordinated admission arrangements; parents resident in West

Sussex can apply online here; parents resident in other areas must apply through their home local

authority. The Academy, Selsey will use West Sussex's timetable published online for these

applications and West Sussex will make the offers of places as required by the School Admissions

Code.

Published Admission Number (PAN)

The PAN for Year 7 is 120. If there are fewer applicants than places available all applicants will

be admitted.

Special Educational Needs

Any child with an Education, Health and Care Plan that names the academy will be admitted.

Oversubscription Criteria

If there are more applications than places available we will apply the oversubscription criteria listed

below:

  1. Looked after children and previously looked after children. A 'looked after child' is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) at the time of making an application to a school. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Previously looked after children also includes those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.

  1. Children with exceptional medical, psychological or social needs which make the school particularly suitable for the child. Applications for priority in this criterion will need to be supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical or other practitioner who can demonstrate a special connection between the applicant’s needs and The Academy, Selsey.

  1. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school with a sibling attending at the time of admission. A map of the catchment area is included at Appendix 1. Brothers or sisters may be half or step-siblings, adopted siblings or the child of the parent/carer’s partner but must be living permanently at the same address.

  1. Other children living in the catchment area.

  1. Children living outside the catchment area of the school with a sibling attending at the time of admission.

  1. Other children living outside the catchment area.

Tie-break

If any of the above criteria are oversubscribed, priority is given to those children living closest to

the school. Distance to the school is measured by straight-line distance, using Ordnance Survey address point data. Where a child lives normally during the school week with more than one parent at different addresses, the permanent home address for the purposes of school admissions will be the one where the child spends the majority of school nights Monday–Friday.

If the distance criterion is not sufficient to distinguish between two or more applicants for the last remaining place then random allocation will be used. This process will be supervised by somebody independent of the school.

Multiple Births

In the case of twins or other multiple births, where there is only one place available in the school, both will be considered together as one application. The school will be allowed to go above its

admission number for this purpose.

Fraudulent or Misleading Applications

As an admission authority we have the right to investigate any concerns we may have about your application and to withdraw the offer of a place if we consider there is evidence that you have made a fraudulent claim or provided misleading information, for example a false address was given which denied a place to a child with a stronger claim. We reserve the right to check any address and other information provided so we can apply the oversubscription criteria accurately and fairly.

Fair Access Protocol

Local Authorities are required to have Fair Access Protocols in order to make sure that unplaced, vulnerable children are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. The school will comply with West Sussex’s Fair Access Protocol. This may mean admitting children above the PAN.

Admission of Children outside their Normal Age Group

Parents may seek a place for their child outside of their normal age group, for example, if the child is gifted and talented or has experienced problems such as ill health. It is important for parents to note that they will have responsibility for providing evidence to support their request.

If parents wish for their child to be considered for admission to a year group which is outside their

normal age group, then they must:

a) Complete the LA common application form or the in-year admission form, as appropriate

b) Attach a letter outlining reasons for the request and all supporting letters and/or documentary evidence in support of the application.

The Academy, Selsey will make decisions on the basis of the circumstances of each case and in

the best interests of the child concerned.

This will include taking account of:

● the parent’s views;

● any available information about the child’s academic, social and emotional development;

● where relevant, their medical history and the views of a medical professional;

● whether they have previously been educated out of their normal age group;

● any evidence that the child may naturally have fallen into a lower age group if it were not

for being born prematurely;

● the views of the head teacher.

In-year admissions

Applications for in year transfers at The Academy, Selsey will be made in accordance with West

Sussex’s in-year co-ordination scheme. Details and an application form can be found here.

Waiting List

Any child refused a place at the school will automatically be put on the waiting list unless a higher

preference school has been offered. A waiting list will be maintained until 31 December after

which it will be cleared. If you would like your child to remain on the waiting list please contact the

school.

The waiting list is maintained in the order of the oversubscription criteria. This means that names

can move down the list if, e.g. someone moves into the area and is higher placed under the

oversubscription criteria.

Appeals

The parents of any child refused a place at the school have a right to appeal to an independent

appeal panel. The decision of the independent appeal panel is binding on all parties.