Key Terms

Academies
Academies are publicly funded schools which operate outside of local authority control. The admissions authority for the school is the Academy Trust.
ACE
Advisory Centre for Education
Block Appeals
Groups of appeals against decisions on applications for admission in September at the normal point of entry to school. These are held between May and July for admissions into the reception class in a primary school and year 7 in a secondary schools for the following September.
Casual Appeals
Appeals against decisions on applications for admission to schools throughout the year. These appeals exclude appeals against unsuccessful applications for reception class places in a primary school, and year 7 places in secondary schools for admission at the normal point of entry to school in September (These are classed as block appeals)
Clerk
Impartial officer, often with a legal background, who provides the panel with advice on procedure to ensure compliance with legal requirements
DfE
The Government's Department for Education.
Free Schools
A school similar to an Academy which is publicly funded which operates outside of local authority control. The admissions authority for the school is the governors.
Foundation Schools
A school with charitable status, maintained by the local authority, which owns its own buildings and grounds, employs its own staff and determines its own admissions. The admissions authority for the school is the governing body.
Infant Class Size Legislation
Legal requirement to keep class numbers at no more than 30 pupils with a single qualified school teacher
LA
Local Authority
Presenting Officer
Representative for the school responsible for presenting the school's case at appeal. For community and voluntary controlled schools, for which the local authority is the admission authority, a senior local authority officer has this role.
Voluntary Aided School
Catholic or Church of England schools where the admissions authority is the governing body.