Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the next review of the School Admissions Code will take place; and whether the scope of that review will include admissions arrangements for schools with a religious character, including the use of faith-based oversubscription criteria.

The department values the contribution schools with a religious character make to a diverse school system, and it is important faith schools can set admissions criteria that work for their local circumstances.

The government set out in the ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ White Paper its intention to consult later this year on changes to the statutory School Admissions Code to reduce barriers and promote fairness for families.

Any changes to the School Admissions Code will be subject to a full public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny.