Consultation on School Admission Arrangements for 2027/2028

Gloucestershire County Council is inviting feedback on proposed changes to the admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools for the academic year 2027/2028.

Under the School Admissions Code 2021, admission authorities must consult on their arrangements at least every seven years, or sooner if changes are proposed. Although the last consultation was held in 2023, we have received feedback about confusion surrounding the “sibling” criterion, particularly for families with children attending companion Infant and Junior schools.

To improve clarity, we are proposing revised wording to the oversubscription criteria. The key changes include:

• Infant/Primary Schools: Sibling priority will now explicitly include children with siblings at the companion Junior School.
• Junior Schools: Priority will be given to children attending the companion Infant School, and sibling priority will include those with siblings at the companion Infant School.

The consultation aims to ensure families better understand how places are allocated when schools are oversubscribed. Schools and families are encouraged to review the proposed changes and share their views. The consultation is open from 1 October to 12 November 2025.

For more information and to take part in the consultation, please visit Have your say Gloucestershire