Admission arrangements 2026 explained

Bedford Borough Council has determined its admission arrangements for September 2026.

The determined admission arrangements are set out in the documents linked to this webpage but are summarised below.

Admissions criteria

• No changes were required to the standard admissions policy for community and voluntary controlled schools for 2026. View the standard policy and the list of community and voluntary controlled schools to which the standard policy applies (PDF).
• Local authority schools with existing admission criteria will retain them. View the list of community and voluntary controlled schools with additional criteria. (PDF). 
• The governing bodies of voluntary aided, foundation schools and academies are their own admission authorities and, therefore, responsible for the determination of their admission arrangements which they must publish on their website. See this list of schools/academies. 

Admission numbers

• The local authority is only required to consult on changes to admission numbers where a reduction is proposed. No reductions were proposed for 2025 2026.
• View the admission numbers for all community and voluntary controlled schools (PDF).
• The governing bodies of voluntary aided, foundation schools and academies are their own admission authorities and, therefore, responsible for the determination of their admission arrangements which must include details of their admission number and must be published on their website. See the list of schools/academies. 

Co-ordinated admission schemes

• Co-ordinated Scheme for Admissions to Upper Schools, Upper Phase Academies, Secondary Schools and Secondary Free School (PDF). 
• Co-ordinated Scheme for Admissions to Middle, Primary, Lower Schools and Middle and Lower Phase Academies (PDF). 

Other

No changes were made to the catchment areas or the relevant area for admissions. The relevant area will continue to cover the administrative area of Bedford Borough Council.

Objections to admission arrangements

Any objections to determined admission arrangements must be made to the Office of Schools Adjudicator by 15 May in the determination year.

Further information on how to make an objection can be obtained from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.