We have to review our school admission arrangements every year.
The admission arrangements for 2027 to 2028 proposed changes to the following sections of the School Admissions Policy:
- 1.5 Children with ALN who have an IDP (Individual Development Plan)
Some of the text has been revised for clarity - 1.8 Fair Access Protocol
Some of the text has been revised for clarity - 1.9 Co-ordinated School Admission Arrangements
The text has been revised in regards to the 2024 Welsh Government regulations requiring a Coordinated Admissions Scheme. The list of participating schools has been amended - 2.1 How to apply
A paragraph has been added in regards to the requirement for a formal offer of a school place to be made before a child can attend a school - 2.4 On-time Applications (considered during the 'normal admissions round')
Dates have been updated for 2027 to 2028 - 2.5 Late Applications (considered outside the 'normal admissions round')
Dates have been updated for 2027 to 2028 - 3.1 Oversubscription Criteria
Dates have been updated for 2027 to 2028 - 4.5 St Mellons Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled Primary School
A paragraph has been added clarifying the school catchment area - 4.6 Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School
Information about Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School has been updated for 2027 to 2028
The Cabinet agreed the School Admission Arrangements 2027 to 2028 on 19 March 2026.
You can view the:
For more information, please contact the School Organisation Planning Team:
Email: [email protected]
School Organisation Planning Team
Room 463, County Hall
Atlantic Wharf
Cardiff
CF10 4UW
Coordinated admissions scheme consultation
On 28 June 2024, the Welsh Government introduced The Education (Co-ordination of School Admission Arrangements and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2024.
In line with these regulations, Cardiff Council must have a coordinated admissions scheme in place for the 2027 to 2028 academic year. The scheme will set out the coordinated admissions processes for all mainstream maintained primary and secondary schools in Cardiff.
We consulted on the draft scheme between 8 October and 4 November 2024.
You can view the Coordinated Admissions Scheme 2027 to 2028 (PDF, 227 KB).
Variation of determined Admissions Arrangements 2026 to 2027
Following consultation between 3 December 2024 and 17 January 2025, the Cardiff Admissions Arrangements 2026 to 2027 were determined on 20 March 2025. The Council was later made aware of an error in its arrangements relating to St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School.
The previous arrangements determined by the Governing Body of the school gave priority to learners resident within the community of Old St Mellons. The boundaries of this area differed to the catchment area published by Cardiff Council.
The area determined by the Governing Body was included in its admissions arrangements for a number of years and the boundary of this area differed to the boundary published on the Council's website.
The Council referred a variation to the admission arrangements to Welsh Ministers for determination. Welsh Ministers concluded that the variation could be made by Cardiff Council without their input.
The Cabinet agreed the variation to the 2026 to 2027 arrangements on 19 March 2026. The arrangements include a catchment area for St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School that is the Old St Mellons Community.
