Hard to place pupils

Salford Local Authority has issued guidance on tackling the issue of hard to place pupils.

What is a hard to place pupil?

In order for your child to be admitted as hard to place they must fall within one of the following categories:

• Looked after children (including children going through the adoption process)
• Homeless children
• Children in refuges
• Children requiring re-integration from a pupil referral units (other than those permanently excluded)
• Children whose parents have been unable to find a place after moving to an area because of a shortage of places
• Children who have been out of education for longer than one term
• Children moving into Salford with less than 60% attendance over the previous two terms at their last school
• Children moving into Salford with a history of behaviour difficulties demonstrated by a significant record of fixed term exclusions i.e. fixed term exclusions totalling 20 days or more in the last two terms
• Year 11 pupils moving into Salford
• Children returning to Salford from a specialised outside placement or secure accommodation who are not on a school roll

What schools will do

• All schools will ensure a fair spread of hard to place pupils
• Schools will admit pupils who apply for an available place under normal arrangements
• Schools cannot refuse to admit a pupil under the protocol
• Hard to place pupils will be given priority for admission over any others (other than those pupils with a statement of special educational needs)
• Schools should respond immediately to requests for admission so that the admission of the pupil is not delayed
• Parents’ views and the distance to the school will be considered, but these will not override the protocol
• Where possible pupils with religious beliefs will be matched to a suitable school but this will not override the protocol
• Infant class size legislation means that admission into primary schools that have reached their admission limit will not be possible even under the terms of this protocol

The process

No secondary school will be required to admit more than two hard to place pupils in any one year group over the period of one school term

No primary school will be required to admin more than one hard to place pupil in any one year group over the period of one school term.

If you require further information, please contact:

Admissions & Exclusions Team  
Tel: 0161 778 0415
Email: school.admissions@salford.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 3 October 2009