Introduction and background: Leighton Middle School admission arrangements consultation
We're responsible for school admission arrangements for all of the community and voluntary controlled schools in our area.
Where changes are proposed to admission arrangements, the law states that the body responsible for admissions must publicly consult on the changes.
This year, we're proposing a change to the admission arrangements for Leighton Middle School. We are publicly consulting on this proposal and, if approved, the changes will come into effect for the 2023/24 school year.
No other changes are being proposed for community and voluntary controlled schools in the area.
The background for this consultation
We have a statutory duty to ensure that admissions are co-ordinated within Central Bedfordshire for all children being admitted at the start of an academic year and to ensure that only one offer of a school place is made.
There are currently 127 mainstream schools within Central Bedfordshire, made up of:
- 97 primary and lower schools
- 1 lower and middle combined school
- 15 middle schools
- 3 extended secondary schools
- 11 secondary and upper schools
- 1 alternative provision free school
- 4 special schools
- 2 nursery schools
Of the mainstream schools (lower, primary, middle, secondary and upper), many different types of schools exist. The types of school are:
- academy
- community
- foundation
- trust
- voluntary-aided
- voluntary-controlled
Types of schools we oversee the admissions for
We're the admissions authority for community and voluntary-controlled schools.
Community schools, which are sometimes called maintained schools, are not influenced by business or religious groups and follow the national curriculum.
We fund voluntary-controlled schools, but they have more freedom to change the way they do things. Sometimes they are supported by representatives from religious groups.
In Central Bedfordshire, there are currently 51 community and voluntary-controlled schools, comprising:
- 41 lower schools
- 7 primary schools
- 3 middle schools
Types of schools we don't oversee the admissions for
Academies, foundation, trust and voluntary-aided schools are responsible for their own admissions. This includes setting the published admissions number and admissions criteria for the school.
The other 76 schools within Central Bedfordshire are either academies or own-admission authority schools (foundation, trust and voluntary-aided).