Draft admissions code allows priority for pupil premium students

The Department for Education has launched a consultation into draft proposals which give admission authorities the option to prioritise disadvantaged children in their admission arrangements.

Under the draft admissions code, all state-funded schools would have the freedom to give priority in their admission arrangements to children eligible for pupil premium or service premium funding and admission authorities of primary schools would have the freedom to give priority in their admission arrangements to children eligible for the early years pupil premium, pupil premium or service premium who attend a nursery which is part of the school.

The Department said there will be no legal requirement for schools to prioritise pupil premium children and that it would be up to them to decide.

There is likely to be concern amongst the private, voluntary and independent nursery sector that this move will mean parents feel pressure to opt for a school-based nursery in order to secure a place at the school further down the line.