Admissions Authority
The body responsible for setting and applying a school admissions policy (the local authority for community schools, the school itself for academies and faith schools).
The admissions authority is the body legally responsible for setting and applying a school’s admissions policy.
- For community and voluntary controlled schools, the local authority (council) is the admissions authority.
- For academies, free schools and voluntary aided schools, the school itself (or its multi-academy trust) is the admissions authority.
- For grammar schools, the school sets its own selection rules alongside the LA.
This matters because the admissions authority writes the oversubscription criteria, processes appeals, and is the right contact for any questions about how places are allocated.
If two schools you’re considering have different admissions authorities, expect their policies, deadlines and documentation to differ - even if they’re a few streets apart.
Related guides
More terms starting with A
Academy
A state-funded school run independently of the local authority, often as part of a Multi-Academy Trust.
Appeals
The legal process through which parents can challenge a refused school place at an independent appeals panel.
Attainment 8
Average grade across 8 GCSE subjects including English and Maths, scored out of 90.