The terms and abbreviations used in the admissions process can be unfamiliar.
These explanations should help but if you require further information please phone 0191 277 4133.
Academy
An Academy is a state school funded directly by Central Government that is independent of Local Authority control.
Admission authority
This is the body responsible for setting and applying a school’s admission arrangements. For our community and voluntary controlled schools, this is Newcastle Local Authority. For faith schools and Academies, this is the school governing body.
Admission arrangements
The procedures, practices and oversubscription criteria used to decide how school places are allocated.
Admission (oversubscription) criteria
These are the rules that decide which children will be given priority where there are more applications than places.
Admission number
The number of school places available in the normal year of entry.
Common application form
The form parents complete and submit to local authorities listing their preferred choices of schools when applying for a school place.
Community schools
These schools are maintained fully by the Local Authority (LA). The LA is the admission authority and it is responsible for determining the admission arrangements and for allocating school places.
Feeder link school
Each of our schools has a feeder link school to which the pupils usually transfer. Attendance at a feeder link school is one of the criteria in the Local Authority admission policy.
First schools
These schools are for pupils aged 4 to 9 years. They are part of a three tier system of schools in the Gosforth area of Newcastle.
Governing bodies
These are bodies with responsibility for the performance, framework and standards under which schools are expected to operate.
Home Local Authority
The Home Local Authority is the Local Authority where the child lives permanently.
Infant class size limit
The law limits the size of an infant class (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes) to 30 pupils to one teacher.
Middle schools
These schools are for pupils aged between 9 and 13 years. They are part of a three tier system of schools in the Gosforth area of Newcastle.
Oversubscription
This means that there have been more applications than there are places at the school.
Parent/carer
These are the people who have parental responsibility for a child who fall under the definition of “parent” as set out in Section 576 of the Education Act 1996.
Parental responsibility
The mother of a child always has parental responsibility. The father also has parental responsibility if named on the birth certificate or by agreement with the mother, or by court order. Parents do not lose parental responsibility if they divorce. In relation to school admissions, this applies to the role of choosing and providing for the child's education.
Preference
The school you would prefer your child to attend.
Primary schools
These schools are for pupils aged 4 to 11 years.
State schools
All children in England between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a free place at a state school. State schools follow a National Curriculum and are regularly inspected by Ofsted. There are four main types of state schools – community, foundation, voluntary aided and voluntary controlled. Academies are also state schools but have different funding arrangements.
Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN)
This is a legal document issued by the local authority for children with particular and significant needs. This outlines how the child will be supported and can include a named school that is suitable for providing education for that child.
Under-subscription
This means that there have been fewer applications than the number of places available.
Voluntary aided (Faith) schools
These are schools where the governing body is the admission authority and is responsible for determining the admission arrangements. These are different to those used by the LA and usually give priority to faith children.
Voluntary controlled (VC) schools
Management of these schools is shared between the LA and the Church of England. The LA is the admission authority and it is responsible for determining the admission arrangements and for allocating school places.