Glossary of terms
Academy (A)
Independently managed all-ability schools. Set up by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) and the local authority. Together they fund the land and buildings, with the government covering the running costs.
Admissions arrangements
The overall procedure, practices and over-subscription criteria used in deciding the allocation of school places including any means used to determine whether a school place is to be offered.
Admissions authority
The body responsible for admissions to a school. For all C and VC schools, the local authority is the admissions authority. For all VA and F schools, the governing body is the admissions authority and for Academies and Free Schools, it is the Academy Trust.
Catchment area
A geographical area from which children may be afforded priority for admission to a school. A catchment area is part of a school’s Admission Arrangements and must therefore be consulted upon, determined and published in the same way as other admission arrangements. See our school catchment map.
Catchment school
The school designated to your home address.
Community school (C)
Provided and maintained by the local authority.
C of E
Church of England.
Child looked after
A ‘looked after’ child or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order. 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.
DfE
Department for Education, which is the central government Department responsible for Education in England and Wales.
Education, Health and Care plan – A legal document issued by the Local Authority specifying the needs, resources and provisions required to support the child and can include a named school that is suitable for providing education for that child.
Foundation school (F)
Maintained by the local authority.
Free school (FS)
Free Schools are non-profit making, independent, state-funded schools.
Home address
This is the child’s permanent address at which they live with a person who has parental responsibility as the main carer (as set down by law).
Home authority
The local authority area you live in.
Infant Class Size Legislation
The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 placed a duty on local authorities and schools to limit the size of infant classes for 5, 6, and 7-year-olds taught by one teacher to 30 or fewer pupils.
ISC
Independent Schools Council. Provides information about Independent Schools.
OFSTED
Office for Standards in Education which is the school inspection service for Central Government. Reports of inspections are available on their website.
Other local authority
An authority other than your home authority.
Over-subscribed
A school is over-subscribed when more applications are submitted than there are places available within the PAN.
Over-subscription criteria
The admissions authority for the school will apply the published over-subscription criteria to decide priority for places.
PAN
Published Admission Number which is the maximum number of places an admissions authority can normally allocate in the intake year group. The PAN is reviewed each year by the admissions authority.
Parent or carer
Natural parents, whether they are married or not, are any person who, although not a natural parent, has parental responsibility for a child or young person. Any person who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child or young person (having care of a child or young person means that a person who the child lives with and who looks after the child, irrespective of what their relationship is with the child, is considered to be a parent in education law).
Preference
The schools you would prefer your children to attend.
RC
Roman Catholic.
Statutory walking distance
The national standard used to measure entitlement to travel assistance to school and the availability of an alternative school, measured along the shortest available walking route.
Supplementary Information Forms (SIF)
A document that may be required to support your application for a preferred school under a specific criterion of the over-subscription criteria.
Transport area
The area in which a family must live to be considered for travel assistance.
Under-subscribed
A school is under-subscribed if there are fewer applications received than places available within the PAN.
VA school
Voluntary Aided Schools are Roman Catholic or Church of England schools, provided by the Church and maintained by the LA.
VC school
Voluntary Controlled Schools are mainly church schools (Church of England).