Current arrangements: Overview

The admissions arrangements for each school will differ depending on the type of school.

You will find the published admission arrangements for academies, foundation and voluntary aided schools within Staffordshire by scrolling to the bottom on this webpage.

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator

Any person or body who considers that any maintained school or academy's arrangements are unlawful, or not in compliance with the school admissions code or relevant law relating to admissions, can make an objection to the schools adjudicator.

Community and voluntary controlled schools

If the number of applications for admission to a school exceeds the school's published admissions number (PAN) then the available places for the school are allocated in strict accordance with its oversubscription criteria.

• Previous arrangements (September 2023 admission)
• Current arrangements (September 2024 admission)

Admission arrangements 2025/2026 (September 2025 admission)

Please view the determined admission arrangements for admission year of 2025/2026.

There have been no changes to the general arrangements or oversubscription criteria applied on behalf of community and voluntary controlled schools for whom the local authority is the responsible admitting authority except to clarify and make clearer the criteria around exceptional medical or social grounds.

If it is believed that the admission arrangements are unlawful or do not comply with the mandatory requirements of the School Admissions Code objections can be made to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.  Any such objections should be submitted in writing by 15 May 2024 by completing the objection to school admission arrangements form.

Schools maintained by other local authorities

You may prefer your child to be admitted to a school maintained by another local authority.

If this is the case, details of their admissions arrangements can be obtained by contacting the authority in question. 

Schools which are academies, voluntary aided, Catholic, foundation, or free schools

These schools have their own oversubscription criteria. The schools use these criteria when allocating places if they are oversubscribed. You can use the A-Z list below to find the arrangements for a specific school in this category.

Please note: If the arrangements for a particular school are not detailed, this is because the school/academy has not sent a copy to the local authority and you should therefore contact the school or academy directly.

The following academies are consulting on their 2025/2026 admission arrangements:

• Leek High - reduction in PAN and change to oversubscription criteria

UTC, studio schools, and colleges

Please view the individual website for information on how places are allocated.

Sixth forms

Applications for admission to school sixth forms are handled directly by the individual school. They will provide you with advice and details of the examination subjects and courses offered to their students and the minimum entry requirements for those courses on request. Children already attending a school in Year 11 wishing to transfer to a school's sixth form are not required to formally apply for places in Year 12 but should have reached the minimum entry qualifications for admission.

External applicants will have the opportunity to make an application. The outcome will depend on minimum entry qualifications and course or study availability.

If you want advice on the options and entry requirements for individual school sixth forms, please make contact with the schools directly.