Alvaston Moor Academy, part of Archway Learning Trust, is undertaking a statutory consultation on its proposed admission arrangements for the 2028/29 academic year.
Under the School Admissions Code (2021), schools must consult on their admission arrangements at least once every seven years or whenever changes are proposed. This consultation will run for six weeks, from 9 December 2025 to 20 January 2026.
The consultation gives parents, carers, staff, local schools, and other members of the community the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed changes to the academy’s admission arrangements. All responses will be carefully considered by the Board of Trustees before the final arrangements are confirmed and published in line with statutory requirements.
Please note: This consultation relates to the 2028/29 academic year (one year ahead of the usual consultation cycle) because changes being proposed.
Summary of Proposed Changes
Alvaston Moor Academy is consulting as part of its ongoing commitment to clarity, fairness, and compliance with the Department for Education’s School Admissions Code (2021), the Academy regularly reviews its admission arrangements. This consultation outlines several proposed amendments designed to ensure the arrangements remain transparent, equitable, and aligned with best practice.
The key proposed updates are outlined below.
Alvaston Moor Academy is consulting on a proposal to reduce its Published Admission Number (PAN) for Year 7 entry from 210 to 180 places from September 2028. This means that, from the 2028/29 academic year onwards, the Academy would admit a maximum of 180 students into Year 7.
Rationale:
- Supporting Educational Improvement: Smaller year groups will create more stable, cohesive cohorts, enabling more targeted teaching and better academic outcomes.
- Continuity of Learning and Pastoral Support: A reduced PAN will help decrease student mobility, maintaining continuity in teaching and pastoral care.
- Efficient Use of Resources: Aligning admissions with projected demand allows more focused deployment of staff and resources, supporting tailored academic support.
- Local Demographic Trends: Forecasts indicate a gradual decline in secondary-aged pupils. The Academy has consistently operated below its current PAN of 210, meaning the reduction reflects actual demand.
- Sustainability and Quality: The proposal ensures that high standards of education, strong pastoral care, and the Academy’s inclusive ethos are maintained while supporting long-term operational and financial sustainability.
Alvaston Moor Academy is proposing to introduce a “Children of Staff” criterion as part of the main oversubscription criteria, in line with section 1.39 of the School Admissions Code 2014. Under this proposal, priority would be given to children of staff after looked-after and previously looked-after children. A clear definition of “Children of Staff” is included in the ‘Notes’ section of the admission arrangements to ensure transparency and consistency.
Proposed wording:
Children of staff, specifically teaching or support staff, full- or part-time, on the payroll of Archway Learning Trust working at Alvaston Moor Academy at the time of admission, where:
- the member of staff has been employed at the Academy for two or more years at the time the application for admission is made, and/or
- the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
Rationale:
- Retention and recruitment: This criterion helps the Academy attract and retain high-quality staff by offering priority to their children.
- Fairness: The criteria are clear and apply only to staff with a genuine connection to the Academy, either through long-term service or recruitment into a post with a proven skill shortage.
The Academy proposes to amend the wording of the arrangements relating to twins, triplets, and children of other multiple births, in the notes section under the sibling criterion.
Proposed revised wording:
“Where applications are received for twins, triplets, or other children of multiple births, if one child from the multiple birth is allocated a place, all children from the same multiple birth will be offered a place. This may result in the Academy admitting above the published admission number.”
Rationale:
The revised clarification aligns with the School Admissions Code by allowing the Academy to exceed the PAN to accommodate multiple-birth children. It removes the previous requirement for parents to choose between siblings and provides clear and transparent information on how such applications will be managed.
Full Proposed Admissions Arrangements 2028/29
You can view the full proposed admissions arrangements in two ways:
View Online: Read the arrangements directly on this page. This version is fully accessible, easy to navigate, and suitable for all devices.
Alvaston Moor Academy Proposed Admission Arrangements 2028/29 (Web Page)
Download PDF: Download a copy to save or print. This version contains all the details in the same format as the online version.
Alvaston Moor Academy Academy Proposed Admission Arrangements 2028/29 (PDF)
How to Respond
Comments can be submitted in the following ways:
Online Consultation Form: Archway Learning Trust – Admission Arrangements Consultation 2027/28 – Online form
Email: admissions@archwaytrust.co.uk
Post: Admissions Services Lead, Archway Learning Trust, Aspley Lane, Nottingham, NG8 5GY
Please clearly state on your response that it relates to Alvaston Moor Academy. All responses must be received by 5:00pm on 20 January 2026.