Maintained schools and further education

This subtopic covers schools which remain subject to local authority support and control. For information in relation to regulation which applies to all state schools, maintained or academy/free schools, please see Regulation of all state schools—overview and Academies and free schools—overview.

Admissions in maintained schools

Every child of compulsory school age must engage in full-time education. A child begins to be of compulsory school age:

  1. when they attain the age of five, if they attain that age on a prescribed day, and

  2. otherwise at the beginning of the prescribed day next following their attaining that age. In nearly every case, the child is enrolled at a school for this purpose

Prior to school, age early years provision is free but attendance cannot be enforced.

Admission to a school roll is often simple, but complications arise when the number of applicants for admission exceeds the school’s capacity. Each admission authority must set an admission number for each age group at which children are normally admitted.

The oversubscription criteria for selecting children for admission are important and often controversial.

The following criteria are ...

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Local Government weekly highlights—26 June 2025

This week's edition of Local Government weekly highlights includes: case analysis of Millbrook Healthcare Ltd v Devon CC, in which the court found that damages are an adequate remedy in the procurement dispute despite a not sufficiently serious breach; Birmingham CC and Wolverhampton CC v Persons Unknown, in which the court found compelling justification to continue the injunctions to prevent dangerous car-cruising against persons unknown; R (Ladybill) v Sheffield magistrates’ court & Rotherham MBC, in which the High Court quashed a decision refusing a recusal application; R (AY) v Vale of Glamorgan CBC, in which the court found that there is no right to a solicitor when individual development plans are reviewed; R (Boswell) v SSESNZ, in which greenhouse gas emissions are under scrutiny in a development consent order decision and Ross v SSHCLG and Renewable Energy Systems Ltd, in which the court confirmed that overplanting in solar schemes may be justified beyond panel degradation. Case reports include R (Trinity College (CSP) Ltd) v SSHCLG, in which the court allowed applications for possession orders and final injunctions against persons unknown in relation to disruptive protests conducted by the ‘Cambridge for Palestine’ group; Cetin v Epping FDC, in which the Upper Tribunal clarified that an agent engaged on a ‘let only’ basis with no further management responsibilities does not qualify as ‘person managing’ an HMO under HA 2004; Mitterhuber v Hernandez, in which the court allowed an appeal against a rent repayment order as the FTT was found to have erred in determining the occupancy nature of the property required for the HA 2004 offences; R (AAM) v Bromley LBC, in which the court held that the LA erred in law by taking into account the claimant’s accommodation provided under IAA 1999, s 95 when determining whether exceptional circumstances existed under ChA 1989, s 24 and Norfolk CC v CA, in which the court addressed an application seeking to vary a Transparency Order and found that competing human rights had to be balanced, ultimately favouring the right to freedom of expression. It includes further updates on public procurement, Governance, Education, Social housing, Children’s social care, Social care, Local government finance and Environmental law and climate change.

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