Can an Academy set its own admissions criteria?

[Tansie]

Either an 'original 'sponsored' academy, built to replace failing schools or a newer OFSTED Outstanding one- can either change their admission criteria from what was originally set by the LEA?

Who henceforth controls Admissions? Like if boundaries have to change due to new housing estates? Or adjacent LEA controlled schools have theirs changed?

All academies can set their own admission criteria provided they comply with the Admissions Code. This is not new - it is one of the freedoms that was given to academies from the beginning. VA schools are also able to set their own admission criteria.

I presume your second paragraph refers to catchment areas. Most LAs do not operate formal catchment areas, instead giving priority based on distance from the school. An academy does not have to use a formal catchment area even if the LA-controlled schools do. Similarly an academy can use a formal catchment area even where the LA uses distance.

If someone is unhappy with the admission criteria (or any other aspect of the admission arrangements) proposed by an academy (or LA, or VA school) they can object to the Schools Adjudicator. This can include the LA objecting to the proposed admission arrangements of an academy. The Adjudicator's decision is binding.

What's the Admissions Code? Can you precis the gist of it please?!

The Admissions Code is the set of rules the government put in place which all admission authorities, including academies and faith schools, must follow. It is a bit big to precis! However, it says that admission criteria must be fair and objective, and specifically rules out some practises.

If you want to read it you can find it on the Department for Education's website. However, if you have concerns or specific questions it is probably easier to raise them here where you will get expert answers.