Policy: Admissions 2025-2026

Determined Admission Arrangements for Co-op Academy Belle Vue

Policy details

• Date approved- 01/10 2025
• Next review date - 01/07/2026
• Policy Owner: Daniel Haste

Introduction

The Co-operative Academies Trust (CAT) is the Admission Authority for Co-op Academy Belle Vue and is therefore responsible for drafting, consulting on, and determining the academy’s admission arrangements.

All applications will be processed in line with the School Admissions Code (2021) and Manchester City Council’s Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme 2025/26.

Where there are more applicants than places available, the oversubscription criteria in this policy will be applied to decide which applicants are offered places. This policy applies to entry into Year 7 in September 2025 and to all in-year admissions.

Application Procedures

• All parents/carers must apply to their home Local Authority (LA) regardless of where the preferred school or academy is located.
  
• Manchester residents apply via the Manchester City Council Admissions Service. Applications can be made online at:
   www.manchester.gov.uk/admissions
  
• Parents/carers may express up to six preferences for schools/academies.
  
• Paper copies of the Standard Application Form (SAF) are available on request and should be returned to:
  
  Admissions Service, Manchester City Council
  P.O. Box 532, Town Hall, Manchester, M60 2LA
  Email: school.admissions@manchester.gov.uk
  

Published Admission Number (PAN)

The PAN is the number of places available in the year of entry. For 2025/26 the PAN for Co-op Academy Belle Vue is:

• 240 places per year group
  

Places will normally only be offered up to PAN unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Oversubscription Criteria

Year 7 Admissions (September 2025)

All children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the academy must be admitted. Where applications exceed PAN, the following categories will apply in order:

1. Looked After and Previously Looked After Children
    Children who are looked after by a local authority or were previously looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted, made subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order.
   
2. Children with Exceptional Medical/Social Needs
    Where evidence is provided from a relevant professional (e.g. doctor, social worker) showing that attendance at Co-op Academy Belle Vue is essential. Applications are considered by a panel of Local Authority officers.
   
3. Siblings
    Children with a sibling at the academy at the time of admission and living at the same address. This includes adopted, step, half, and foster siblings.
   
4. Other Children
    Applicants ranked according to distance from the academy, measured in a straight line using the LA’s computerised measuring system.
   

Tie-break: Where two or more applicants live the same distance from the academy, priority will be decided by random allocation.

In-Year Admissions (Years 7–11 during the year)

The following criteria apply if there are more applicants than vacancies:

All children whose statement of special educational needs or Education, Health and Care plan names the academy must be admitted.

1. Looked after and previously looked after children.
   
2. Children with exceptional medical/social needs.
   
3. Siblings at the academy.
   
4. Children new to Manchester without a school place.
   
5. Other children ranked by distance.
   

“New to Manchester” refers to children moving into the city from abroad or another LA within the same academic year who do not have a reasonable option to attend their previous school.

For parents who have shared responsibility for a child, the place of residency will be determined as the address where the child lives for the majority of the week. Where this cannot be easily determined, full details must be provided in writing at the time of application to enable the LA to determine which address will be used for the purpose of admission. Should the Local Authority be unable to reach a decision based on the information received, the address provided for claiming Child Benefit and where appropriate, Child Tax Credits will be used. In such circumstances, documentary evidence must be provided.

Waiting Lists

• For the Year 7 admissions round, waiting lists will be kept until 31 December 2025.
  
• For primary to secondary admissions, waiting lists are ordered according to oversubscription criteria, not the length of time on the list.
  
• For in-year admissions, waiting lists will be kept until the end of the academic year (July 2026).
  
• Children admitted under the Fair Access Protocol will take priority over those on the waiting list.
  

Late Applications

• The closing date for secondary applications is 31 October 2024 (11:59pm).
  
• Applications received after the deadline are considered late and processed after all on-time applications.
  
• Valid late applications (e.g. families moving into Manchester) will be accepted up to:
  

• 10 January 2025 for secondary admissions
  
  

Offer Dates

• Secondary offers will be sent on 3 March 2025. Parents/carers must accept or decline places by 17 March 2025.
  
• Only the Local Authority can make an official offer of a school place.
  

In-Year Admissions

• All in-year applications must be made via Manchester LA, who will coordinate placements.
  
• The academy must update the LA regularly on vacancies and roll numbers.
  
• If the number of applications exceeds vacancies, oversubscription criteria will be applied.
  
• Unsuccessful applicants have the right to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel.
  

Fair Access Protocol

Co-op Academy Belle Vue participates in Manchester’s In-Year Fair Access Protocol (FAP). Children allocated under FAP are admitted above the waiting list in line with the School Admissions Code (2021).

Appeals

Parents/carers who are refused a place at the academy have the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. Details will be provided in the refusal letter.