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  • Closed consultation Consultation on Temporary Variation (TV) Policy Review

    Topics:
    • Admissions

    Consultation closed Consultation opened 2 September 2025, 9.00 am and closed 3 November 2025, 11.59 pm

    Summary

    The Department is consulting on a review of the Temporary Variation (TV) Policy

    Documents

    • Temporary Variation (TV) Policy Review Consultation Document Adobe PDF (218 KB)
    • Rural Needs Impact Assessment for Temporary Variation (TV) Policy Review Adobe PDF (107 KB)
    • Data Protection Impact Assessment for Temporary Variation (TV) Policy Review Adobe PDF (96 KB)
    • Equality and Human Rights Policy Screening for Temporary Variation (TV) Policy Review Adobe PDF (221 KB)
    • Privacy Notice for Temporary Variation (TV) Policy Review Adobe PDF (74 KB)

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    Consultation description

    The department is seeking views on how we can change our approach to deciding whether to grant additional places at an oversubscribed school for named children by way of Temporary Variation (TV) policy.

    When a mainstream school is oversubscribed with applications, it may apply to the department to admit additional, named children.  TV Policy, which determines whether additional places will be approved, has not be the subject of a fundamental review in over a decade.

    The TV Policy does not cover the Sixth Form TV Policy or the Temporary Flexibility Policy which is a temporary increase in the approved enrolment numbers for statutory pre-school settings.  It also does not cover Special schools, which do not have approved admissions and enrolment numbers set by the department.

    Ways to respond

    Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.

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