Proposed Changes to Primary, Infant and Junior School Admissions (2027/2028)
We want your views on some important changes to how school places are allocated for Wokingham Borough Council’s local authority maintained schools. These changes would apply from the 2027/2028 academic year.
What we're proposing
- Replace catchment areas with a direct distance-to-school (D2S) model
- Remove the medical/social needs criterion
- Give priority to children of staff employed for 2+ years
- Move the deadline for secondary school evidence from 31 December to 30 November
We are also looking to simplify the oversubscription criteria.
Please read on to understand the background to the proposals.
Proposal 1: Replacing designated/catchment areas with a direct distance-to-school (D2S) model
Currently, many schools use designated/catchment areas to prioritise admissions. We are proposing to replace these with a direct distance-to-school (D2S) model. This means places will be offered based on how close you live to the school (measured in a straight line).
Advantages of this model:
- It is simpler and fairer. The current system uses historic catchment boundaries that can be confusing and inconsistent.
- There would be better access. Children who live nearest to a school will be prioritised for a place.
- The model is aligned with Wokingham's Travel Assistance Policy, which is based on the nearest available school.
- It is adaptable, allowing for new housing developments to be accomodated.
Proposal 2: Removal of the medical/social needs criterion
Currently, children with exceptional medical or social needs can be prioritised for a school place if supported by professional evidence. However, this is rarely used and adds complexity to the admissions process. We are proposing to remove this criterion to simplify the process and improve consistency.
In 2025, we received 1,853 applications for primary school admissions. Only 18 were assessed under this criterion, with just two approved.
The removal of this criteria would mean:
- Families will have a clearer picture of how decisions are made and what evidence is needed.
- It would result in fairer decisions, ensuring all applications are assessed using the same criteria, reducing the risk of inconsistent or subjective decisions.
- Children with significant needs will still be supported through other established routes, such as Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which are designed to meet complex needs more comprehensively.
Proposal 3: Prioritising children of established school staff
We propose to give priority to children of staff who have worked at the school for two years or more at the time of application.
This would benefit schools as it would:
- Support recruitment and staff retention. Offering priority to children of school staff helps schools retain experienced teachers and support staff, which benefits the whole school community.
- Recognises staff commitment. This proposal acknowledges the contribution of staff who have invested time and energy into the school, supporting continuity and stability.
- Follows national practice. This approach is permitted under the Department for Education’s School Admissions Code (2021) and is already used by many local authorities and academies across England, as well as across the Wokingham Borough itself.
Proposal 4: Amendment to the Co-ordinated Admission Schemes timeline for secondary school application evidence
About the Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme
The coordinated admissions scheme is a national framework that ensures all local authorities work together to manage applications for school places in a fair and consistent way. It sets out the process and timeline for how applications are submitted and processed, and offers are made—particularly for entry into Reception and Year 7 (secondary transfer).
Each local authority publishes its own coordinated scheme annually, including key dates and deadlines.
What we are considering
We propose moving the deadline for submitting evidence of house moves and other documents for secondary school applications from 31 December to 30 November.
The benefits of this approach include:
- Consistency across regions: Aligning Wokingham’s deadline with neighbouring local authorities helps families who are applying across different areas navigate the process more easily.
- Improves planning: An earlier deadline allows for more efficient processing of applications and supporting evidence, helping ensure timely and accurate school place offers.
When a school becomes 'oversubscribed'
When a school receives more applications than it has places available, it becomes 'oversubscribed'. In these cases, we need a clear and fair way to decide which children are offered places.
Based on the proposed changes outlined in this consultation, we are considering the following order of priority for allocating places. Within each category, children living closest to the school (measured in a straight line) would be given higher priority.
- Looked after or previously looked after children - Highest priority must be given to children in care of a local authority or previously looked after children (including those adopted or under special guardianship orders). They are given the highest priority to ensure they have access to stable and supportive educational environments.
- Children attending infant school (for Junior school applications to Year 3) - This applies when a child is moving from an infant school to a linked junior school. Giving priority here helps maintain continuity in education and friendships.
- Children of school staff (employed for two years or more) - This recognises the contribution of staff who have worked at the school for a sustained period. It supports staff retention and acknowledges their role in the school community.
- Siblings - Children who have a brother or sister already attending the school at the time of application. This helps families by keeping siblings together and simplifying school drop-offs and pick-ups.
- Distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) - After applying the above criteria, remaining places would be offered to children who live closest to the school. This ensures fairness and supports local access.
If a school is named in an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan), the child must be admitted. This is not part of the oversubscription criteria. The child must be enrolled to the named school, even if the school is already full or oversubscribed. This overrides the other oversubscription criteria.
Phases
Give us your views
We want your views on some important changes to how school places are allocated for Wokingham Borough Council’s community and voluntary controlled primary, infant and junior schools. These changes would apply from the 2027/2028 academic year.
Please take the survey to have your say on the proposals.
If you need help taking this survey, or would like a paper copy, call our customer service team on 0118 974 6000, or visit a borough library.