Opening, closing and making changes to schools
Schools adjudicator decisions on opening, closing and making significant changes (prescribed alterations) to maintained schools.
Applies to England
Opening a school
The adjudicator decides on proposals to open a new school where the local authority:
- is involved in the trust of a new foundation school
- is the proposer of a new school under Section 10 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA)
- does not decide proposals for a new school within 2 months of the end of the representation period
It also makes decisions on proposals where:
- the Diocesan Board of any Church of England Diocese or the bishop of any Roman Catholic church in the relevant area appeals the decision of a local authority
- the proposers of a new school refer the decision of the local authority
Find out more from the statutory guidance on opening and closing maintained schools .
Closing a school
The adjudicator decides on proposals to close a school where:
- the local authority does not decide proposals to close a school within 2 months of the end of the representation period
- the Diocesan Board of any Church of England Diocese or the bishop of any Roman Catholic church in the relevant area appeals the decision of a local authority
- the governing board or foundation of a voluntary or foundation school refer the decision of a local authority
Find out more from the statutory guidance on opening and closing maintained schools.
To make a referral, email the relevant documents as set out in the statutory guidance to: [email protected].
Significant changes to maintained schools
These changes include:
- the enlargement of school premises
- the numbers at a special school
- age range
- closing a site or transfer of a site
- change of category
- change from or to single sex
- special needs provision
- boarding
The adjudicator decides these proposals where:
- the local authority does not decide proposals within 2 months of the end of the representation period
- the proposal is related to a proposal which must be decided by the adjudicator
- the Diocesan Board of any Church of England Diocese or the bishop of any Roman Catholic church in the relevant area appeal the decision of a local authority
- the governing board or foundation of a voluntary or foundation school refer the decision of a local authority
Find out more from the statutory guidance on making significant changes (‘prescribed alterations’) to maintained schools.
To make a referral, email the relevant documents as set out in the statutory guidance to: [email protected].
Foundation proposals
Local authorities may refer a proposal for a foundation school to acquire a foundation trust or a foundation majority to the adjudicator if it considers the proposal to have a negative effect on the standards at the school. This must be done during the 4-week representation period.
To make a referral, email the relevant documents as set out in the statutory guidance to: [email protected].