The application deadline for the next Fair School Admissions Pledge is the 29th April. This marks a year since the Sutton Trust launched the Fair School Admissions Pledge and Award with the hope that we could start to solve the decades’ old issue of unfair admissions policies. As such, we have been reflecting on the impact of this work so far.  Across four cohorts, we have worked with 67 values-driven school leaders through the Fair School Admissions Pledge. These amazing leaders have reviewed their admissions processes and written dedicated action plans to ensure that all children in their community can access their schools. Popular tactics have included writing simplified versions of admissions policies and parent versions of Pupil Premium strategies so that parents are as well informed as they can be when making school choices. As a result of this work alongside our wider work we have seen a 24% increase in the number of schools now choosing to use a Pupil Premium priority in their over-subscription criteria.

“Engaging with the Fair Admissions Pledge helped to focus our thinking about how to be as welcoming and inclusive as we possibly can to all families in our community, as well as giving a space for us to recognise and celebrate what we are already doing really well”. Laura Scott, Assistant Headteacher, Willowfield School

A lot of our work has been with Multi-Academy Trusts such as Orion Education and Brooke Weston Trust who have implemented strategies across their schools, often using their cross-phase nature to look at how primary schools can support their secondary counterparts.

“Completing the Fair Schools Admission Pledge at a MAT level signifies a commitment to equity and inclusion across all schools within the trust. It ensures that every child, regardless of background, has access to fair and transparent admissions processes, fostering a truly diverse and inclusive educational environment that benefits the entire community.” Gavin Smith, Safeguarding and Attendance Strategic Lead, Advance Learning Partnership

Some of our most impactful work has been at a Local Authority level, for example working with the schools in Southampton:

“As a Local Authority, we have found it very useful to look at our area as a whole to see if disadvantaged pupils experience the same further disadvantage simply based on who their most local school is. Taking a look at admissions on a collective scale means we can plan for all communities to have equal opportunities to overcome disadvantage and consistent help with the often confusing process of school admissions.” Zoe Snow, Strategic Lead for Education Access,  Southampton City Council

We are most proud of the schools that have taken the boldest possible actions and introduced a pupil premium priority to their oversubscription criteria.

“At Saracens High School, we are deeply committed to removing barriers for young people and ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive. By implementing a Pupil Premium priority in our admissions policy, we reaffirm our dedication to supporting some of the more vulnerable pupils in our community. Completing the Fair School Admissions Pledge aligns with our belief in fairness, transparency, and inclusion, helping us create a school where diversity is celebrated, aspirations are raised, and every child has the chance to achieve their full potential. We are a values-driven organisation and this further supports our mission statement that every child deserves the chance to succeed and will leave us with a desire to make a positive contribution to society.” Matt Stevens, Principal, Saracens High School

As we come to the end of our first year, we have been carefully evaluating the support we have offered to identify how we can improve the Fair School Admissions Pledge. Our existing pledgees tell us that the programme is incredibly useful, with 100% of them highly likely to recommend the pledge to another school leader. 100% of respondents found that Fair Access Review element of the pledge was ‘very useful’. Leaders also reported several benefits. Peer support was a key theme, with leaders appreciating access to sector experts as well as having opportunities to share ideas with other Senior Leaders. Others noted that the structured approach allowed them to develop their own professional knowledge and expertise and kept them on track in a busy working environment while also reducing the workload associated with this type of work.

Over the summer we will be investing time into developing our resources further, for example looking at how we can embed further opportunities for peer support and 1:1 coaching opportunities. We will also be refining our support for schools looking to make a policy change through a formal consultation. We plan to hold the workshop session earlier in the year to enable leaders a longer time to implement this change effectively.

We are excited to see the conversation around admissions grow over the last year as well. The Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill looks to strengthen collaboration between Local Authorities and Academies in admissions. There has been healthy discussion around the best way to implement Fair Banding in education news outlets and other organisations have begun researching the impact fair admissions could have on the attainment gap. Admissions is a ‘wicked problem’ and the conversation around it won’t always be easy, there is going to be disagreement about the best way forward with admissions. But at least now the conversation is happening!

If you think you school or MAT would be a good fit to join the Pledge or you would like to find out more, visit our dedicated webpage or start your application form today.