School Standards and Framework Act 1998

Parental preferences E+W

86 Parental preferences. E+W

(1) A [F1 local authority] shall make arrangements for enabling the parent of a child in the area of the authority—

(a) to express a preference as to the school at which he wishes education to be provided for his child in the exercise of the authority’s functions, and

(b) to give reasons for his preference.

[F2 (1ZA) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to—

(a) sixth form education, or

(b) any other education to be provided for a child who—

(i) has ceased to be of compulsory school age, or

(ii) will have ceased to be of compulsory school age before the education is provided for him.]

[F3 (1A) A [F1 local authority] in England shall provide advice and assistance to parents of children in the area of the authority in connection with the preferences expressed or to be expressed by them in accordance with the arrangements made under subsection (1).]

(2) Subject to [F4 subsection (3)] and section 87 (children excluded from two or more schools), [F5 the admission authority for a maintained school] shall comply with any preference expressed in accordance with arrangements made under subsection (1).

[F6 (2A) Arrangements made under subsection (1) may allow the parent of a child to express preferences for more than one school; but nothing in this section requires the admission authority for a maintained school for which a child’s parent has expressed a preference to offer the child admission to the school if, in accordance with a scheme adopted or made by virtue of section 89B, the child is offered admission to a different school for which the parent has also expressed a preference.]

(3) The duty imposed by subsection (2) does not apply—

(a) if compliance with the preference would prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources; [F7 or]

(b) F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) if the arrangements for admission to the preferred school—

(i) are wholly based on selection by reference to ability or aptitude, and

(ii) are so based with a view to admitting only pupils with high ability or with aptitude,

and compliance with the preference would be incompatible with selection under those arrangements.

F9 (3A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10 (3B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3)(a) prejudice of the kind referred to in that provision may arise by reason of measures required to be taken in order to ensure compliance with the duty imposed by section 1(6) (duty of [F1 local authority] and governing body to comply with limit on infant class sizes).

[F11 (5) No prejudice shall be taken to arise for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) from the admission to a maintained school in a school year of a number of pupils in a relevant age group which does not exceed the number determined under section [F12 88C or] 89 as the number of pupils in that age group that it is intended to admit to the school in that year; but this subsection does not apply if the conditions set out in subsection (5A) are met in relation to the school and the school year.

(5A) Those conditions are—

(a) that the school is one at which boarding accommodation is provided for pupils; and

(b) that the determination under section [F13 88C or] 89 by the admission authority of the admission arrangements which are to apply for that year includes the determinations mentioned in [F14 section 88D(2)(a) and (b) or 89A(2)(a) and (b)].

(5B) Where the conditions set out in subsection (5A) are met in relation to a maintained school and a school year, no prejudice shall be taken to arise for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) from either of the following—

(a) the admission to the school in that year as boarders of a number of pupils in a relevant age group which does not exceed the number determined under section [F15 88C or] 89 as the number of pupils in that age group that it is intended to admit to the school in that year as boarders;

(b) the admission to the school in that year otherwise than as boarders of a number of pupils in a relevant age group which does not exceed the number determined under section [F16 88C or] 89 as the number of pupils in that age group that it is intended to admit to the school in that year otherwise than as boarders.]

F17 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) Where the arrangements for the admission of pupils to a maintained school provide for applications for admission to be made to (or to a person acting on behalf of) the governing body of the school, a parent who makes such an application shall be regarded for the purposes of this section as having expressed a preference for that school in accordance with arrangements made under subsection (1).

(8) The duty imposed by subsection (2) in relation to a preference expressed in accordance with arrangements made under subsection (1) shall apply also in relation to—

(a) any application for the admission to a maintained school of a child who is not in the area of the authority maintaining the school, and

(b) any application made by a parent as mentioned in section 438(4) or 440(2) of the M1 Education Act 1996 (application for a particular school to be named in a school attendance order);

and references in [F18 subsection (3)] to a preference and a preferred school shall be construed accordingly.

(9) Where admission arrangements for a school [F19 , F20 ..., provide for all pupils selected under the arrangements] to be selected by reference to ability or aptitude, those arrangements shall be taken for the purposes of this section to be wholly based on selection by reference to ability or aptitude, whether or not they also provide for the use of additional criteria in circumstances where the number of children in a relevant age group who are assessed to be of the requisite ability or aptitude is greater than the number of pupils which it is intended to admit to the school in that age group.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 10(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 10(4))

F2 S. 86(1ZA) inserted (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(2); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(e) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d) (with art. 4)

F3 S. 86(1A) inserted (27.2.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 42, 188(3); S.I. 2006/3400, art. 7(b)

F4 Words in s. 86(2) substituted (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(3); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(e) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d) (with art. 4)

F5 Words in s. 86(2) substituted (8.1.2007 for E., 30.6.2008 for W.) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 43(2), 188(3); S.I. 2006/3400, art. 2(a); S.I. 2008/1429, art. 3(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F6 S. 86(2A) inserted (1.10.2002 for E., 31.5.2005 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 216(4), Sch. 4 para. 3(3) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3 (with art. 4, Sch. paras. 3, 4) (which transitional provisions in Sch. para. 4 are substituted (6.3.2003) by S.I. 2003/606, art. 2 and (4.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/2992, art. 3); S.I. 2005/1395, art. 4, Sch. (with art. 5(1))

F7 Word in s. 86(3)(a) inserted (1.10.2002 for E., 31.5.2005 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 216(4), Sch. 4 para. 3(4)(a) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3 (with art. 4, Sch. paras. 3, 4) (which transitional provisions in Sch. para. 4 are substituted (6.3.2003) by S.I. 2003/606, art. 2 and (4.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/2992, art. 3); S.I. 2005/1395, art. 4, Sch. (with art. 5(1))

F8 S. 86(3)(b) repealed (1.10.2002 for E. otherwise prosp.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 51, 215(2), 216, Sch. 4 para. 3(4)(b), Sch. 22 Pt. 3 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3 (with Sch.)

F9 S. 86(3A) repealed (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(4), Sch. 2; S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(e)(f) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(e) (with art. 4)

F10 S. 86(3B) repealed (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(4), Sch. 2; S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(e)(f) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(e) (with art. 4)

F11 S. 86(5)-(5B) substituted for s. 86(5) (1.10.2002 for E., 1.2.2006 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 47(1), 216(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4) and S.I. 2006/173, reg. 4); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3 (with art. 4, Sch. paras. 3, 4) (which transitional provisions in Sch. para. 4 are substituted (6.3.2003) by S.I. 2003/606, art. 2 and (4.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/2992, art. 3); S.I. 2006/172, art. 4, Sch.

F12 Words in s. 86(5) inserted (2.12.2008 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(5); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 3(b) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d) (with art. 4)

F13 Words in s. 86(5A) inserted (2.12.2008 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(6)(a); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 3(b) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d) (with art. 4)

F14 Words in s. 86(5A) substituted (2.12.2008 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(6)(b); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 3(b) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d) (with art. 4)

F15 Words in s. 86(5B)(a) inserted (2.12.2008 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(7); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 3(b) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d) (with art. 4)

F16 Words in s. 86(5B)(b) inserted (2.12.2008 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(7); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 3(b) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d) (with art. 4)

F17 S. 86(6) repealed (1.10.2002 for E., 1.2.2006 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 216(4), Sch. 4 para. 3(6), Sch. 22 Pt. 3 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3 (with art. 4, Sch. paras. 3, 4) (which transitional provisions in Sch. para. 4 are substituted (6.3.2003) by S.I. 2003/606, art. 2 and (4.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/2992, art. 3); S.I. 2006/172, art. 4, Sch.

F18 Words in s. 86(8) substituted (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(8); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(e) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d) (with art. 4)

F19 Words in s. 86(9) substituted (1.10.2002 for E., 31.5.2005 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 216(4), Sch. 4 para. 3(8) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3 (with art. 4, Sch. paras. 3, 4) (which transitional provisions in Sch. para. 4 are substituted (6.3.2003) by S.I. 2003/606, art. 2 and (4.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/2992, art. 3); S.I. 2005/1395, art. 4, Sch. (with art. 5(1))

F20 Words in s. 86(9) repealed (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 54(9), Sch. 2; S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(e)(f) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(e) (with art. 4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 86 modified (temp. from 22.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/1064, reg. 3

Ss. 86-87 restricted (29.3.1999) by S.I. 1999/1016, art. 6, Sch. 4 paras. 1, 2(1)

S. 86 applied (with modifications) (18.10.1999) by S.I. 1999/2666, reg. 8, Sch. paras. 1(c), 2-8.

S. 86 applied (with modifications) (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2800, reg. 7, Sch. paras. 1, 2-8.

C2 S. 86 applied (with modifications) (8.5.2003) by The New School (Admissions) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1041), regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. para. 1(b)

C3 S. 86 amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2002/2439, Sch. para. 4 (4.12.2003) by The Education Act 2002 (Commencement No. 2 and Savings and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2992), arts. 1, 3

C4 S. 86 excluded (1.9.2005) by The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2039), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 1

C5 S. 86 applied (with modifications) (1.2.2006) by The New School (Admissions) (Wales) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/175), regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. (with reg. 2(2))

C6 S. 86 excluded (23.4.2007) by The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1069), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 1

C7 S. 86 excluded (E.) (1.2.2008) by The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2979), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 1

C8 S. 86(1) applied (with modifications) (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/1812, reg. 8, Sch. 2 para. 5(b)

C9 S. 86(1)(2) excluded (prosp.) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 36(5)(a)(10), 162(2) (with s. 159)

C10 S. 86(5)-(5B) modified (E.) (25.5.2007) by The School Admissions (Alteration and Variation of, and Objections to, Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/496), regs. 1(3), 4(5)

Marginal Citations

M1 1996 c. 56.

[F21 86A Preferences relating to sixth-form education: [F1 local authority] arrangements E+W

(1) A [F1 local authority] shall make arrangements for enabling—

(a) a child in the authority's area to express a preference as to the school at which he wishes sixth form education to be provided for him in the exercise of the authority's functions,

(b) a parent of such a child to express a preference as to the school at which he wishes sixth form education to be so provided for his child,

(c) a relevant child to express a preference as to the school at which he wishes education other than sixth form education to be provided for him in the exercise of the authority's functions, and

(d) a parent of such a child to express a preference as to the school at which he wishes such education to be so provided for his child,

and, in each case, for enabling the person expressing the preference to give reasons for his preference.

(2) In subsection (1), “relevant child”, in relation to a [F1 local authority] and any education, means a child in the authority's area who—

(a) has ceased to be of compulsory school age, or

(b) will have ceased to be of compulsory school age before the education in question is provided for him.

(3) Arrangements made under subsection (1) shall allow—

(a) a person who is to be able to express a preference under any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of that subsection to express preferences for more than one school;

(b) preferences to be expressed, in relation to a child, by both the child and a parent of his.

(4) Where—

(a) the arrangements for the admission of pupils to a maintained school provide for applications for admission to be made to (or to a person acting on behalf of) the governing body of the school, and

(b) a child (whether or not in the area of the authority maintaining the school) or his parent makes such an application,

that person shall be regarded for the purposes of this Chapter as having expressed a preference for that school in accordance with arrangements made under subsection (1).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 10(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 10(4))

F21 Ss. 86A, 86B inserted (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), ss. 150, 173(3)(4); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(a) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(a) (with art. 4)

86B Duty in relation to preferences expressed under section 86A: admission authorities of maintained schools E+W

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (4) and section 87, the admission authority for a maintained school shall comply with any preference expressed in accordance with arrangements made under section 86A(1).

(2) The duty imposed by subsection (1) does not apply if compliance with the preference would prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources.

(3) Subsections (5) to (5B) of section 86 apply for the purpose of determining whether any prejudice should be taken to arise for the purposes of subsection (2), but with the substitution of references to that subsection for references to subsection (3)(a) of section 86.

(4) The duty imposed by subsection (1) does not apply in a case where a preference is expressed in relation to sixth form education if—

(a) the relevant selection arrangements for the preferred school are wholly based on selection by reference to ability or aptitude, and

(b) compliance with the preference would be incompatible with selection under those arrangements.

(5) Where the relevant selection arrangements for a school provide for all pupils selected under the arrangements to be selected by reference to ability or aptitude, those arrangements shall be taken for the purposes of subsection (4)(a) to be wholly based on selection by reference to ability or aptitude whether or not they also provide for the use of additional criteria in circumstances where the number of children in a relevant age group who are assessed to be of the requisite ability or aptitude is greater than the number of pupils which it is intended to admit to the school in that age group.

(6) In this section “the relevant selection arrangements”, in relation to a school, means—

(a) the arrangements for admission to the school for sixth form education, or

(b) those arrangements and the arrangements for entry to the sixth form of children who have been admitted to the school.]

Textual Amendments

F21 Ss. 86A, 86B inserted (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), ss. 150, 173(3)(4); S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(a) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(a) (with art. 4)

87 No requirement to admit children permanently excluded from two or more schools. E+W

(1) The [F22 duties imposed by section 86(2) and section 86B(1) do] not apply in the case of a child to whom subsection (2) below applies.

(2) Where a child has been permanently excluded from two or more schools, this subsection applies to him during the period of two years beginning with the date on which the latest of those exclusions took effect.

(3) Subsection (2) applies to a child whatever the length of the period or periods elapsing between those exclusions and regardless of whether it has applied to him on a previous occasion.

[F23 (3A) A child who has been permanently excluded from a school in England shall not be treated for the purposes of this section as having been so excluded if any of the following applies—

(a) the child was reinstated as a pupil at the school following a direction from the responsible body—

(i) in accordance with regulations under subsection (3)(b) of section 51A of the Education Act 2002;

(ii) following a recommendation from the review panel that the responsible body reconsiders the matter under subsection (4)(b) of that section;

(b) the child would have been reinstated as a pupil at the school following a direction from the responsible body as described in paragraph (a)(i) or (ii), if it had been practical for the responsible body to give such a direction;

(c) the review panel has quashed a decision of the responsible body not to reinstate the child as a pupil at the school under subsection (4)(c) of section 51A of the Education Act 2002;

(d) the child was so excluded at a time when the child had not attained compulsory school age.

(3B) In subsection (3A) “the responsible body” has the same meaning as in section 51A of the Education Act 2002.]

[F24 (4) F25 ... A child who has been permanently excluded from a school [F26 in Wales] shall not be treated for the purposes of this section as having been so excluded if—

(a) he was reinstated as a pupil at the school following the giving of a direction to that effect by the relevant authority in accordance with regulations under subsection (3)(b) or (c) of section 52 of the Education Act 2002,

(b) on a review of his exclusion carried out in accordance with regulations under subsection (3)(b) of that section or an appeal made pursuant to regulations under subsection (3)(c) of that section, the relevant authority decided—

(i) that it would not be practical to give a direction requiring his reinstatement as a pupil at the school, but

(ii) that it would otherwise have been appropriate to give such a direction, or

(c) he was so excluded at a time when he had not attained compulsory school age.

(4A) In subsection (4) “the relevant authority” means—

(a) the responsible body as defined by subsection (5) of section 52 of the Education Act 2002, or

(b) a panel constituted in accordance with regulations under subsection (3)(c) of that section.]

(5) In this section “school” means—

(a) in relation to any time before or after the appointed day, a school maintained by a [F1 local authority]; or

(b) in relation to any time before the appointed day, a grant-maintained or grant-maintained special school within the meaning of the M2 Education Act 1996.

(6) For the purposes of this section the permanent exclusion of a child from a school shall be regarded as having taken effect on the school day as from which the head teacher decided that he should be permanently excluded.

(7) Nothing in this section applies to a child unless at least one of the two or more exclusions mentioned in subsection (2) took effect on or after 1st September 1997.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 10(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 10(4))

F22 Words in s. 87(1) substituted (26.1.2009 for E., 31.3.2009 for W.) by Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25), s. 173(3)(4), Sch. 1 para. 55; S.I. 2008/3077, art. 5(e) (with art. 6); S.I. 2009/784, art. 3(d)

F23 S. 87(3A)(3B) inserted (1.9.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 1 para. 9; S.I. 2012/1087, art. 3 (with art. 4)

F24 S. 87(4)(4A) substituted for s. 87(4) (20.1.2003 for E., 9.1.2004 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 216(4), Sch. 4 para. 4 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2952, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 3); S.I. 2003/2961, art. 7, Sch. Pt. IV

F25 Word in s. 87(4) omitted (1.9.2012) by virtue of Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 1 para. 10(a); S.I. 2012/1087, art. 3 (with art. 4)

F26 Words in s. 87(4) inserted (1.9.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 1 para. 10(b); S.I. 2012/1087, art. 3 (with art. 4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11 Ss. 86-87 restricted (29.3.1999) by S.I. 1999/1016, art. 6, Sch. 4 paras. 1, 2(1)

S. 87 applied (with modifications) (18.10.1999) by S.I. 1999/2666, reg. 8, Sch. paras. 1(c), 2-8

S. 87 applied (with modifications) (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2800, reg. 7, Sch. paras. 1, 2-8.

C12 S. 87 applied (with modifications) (E.) (8.5.2003) by The New School (Admissions) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1041), regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. para. 1(b)

C13 S. 87 applied (with modifications) (1.2.2006) by The New School (Admissions) (Wales) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/175), regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. (with reg. 2(2))

C14 S. 87: power to disapply conferred (temp.) (25.3.2020) by Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 17 para. 7 (with ss. 88-90) (which affecting provision expires (25.9.2022) by virtue of Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 89 (with s. 90))

Marginal Citations

M2 1996 c. 56.