Consultation for proposed Admissions Arrangements 2027-2028
Watling Academy is consulting on its Admission Arrangements for September 2027. If you have any comments regarding this consultation, please email our Governance Professional Mrs Katie Brennen (brennenk@watling.academy). Written comments can also be sent to:
Watling Academy
Barrosa Way
Whitehouse
Milton Keynes
MK8 1EP
The consultation closes at 12 noon on Monday 19th January 2026, and all written comments must be received by this time. Whilst there are no changes proposed to our admissions criteria, we have revised our post-16 admissions arrangements to enhance clarity for applicants and to provide additional detail regarding the application process.
Status of the school
Watling Academy is an Academy within the Alliance Schools Trust and, as such, is its own admissions authority. It is the Governing Body of the School/Academy that determines the admission criteria and operates the admission process. Parents should note that for Milton Keynes’ Secondary Schools including Academies there is no automatic right to a place at the ‘defined area’ School/Academy. It is essential that application forms are completed and returned by the deadline date. If you make an application for a school that is not your local School/Academy and subsequently are not allocated a place, there is no guarantee that secondary education will be available for your child at the defined area School/Academy.
Applying to Watling Academy
Milton Keynes Council (MKC) coordinate ALL applications for the normal Year 7 admissions round (starting in September). For more information please visit the Milton Keynes Council website.
Waiting List
In accordance with the Admissions Code, Watling Academy will maintain a waiting list which will be administered by the Trustees of the Academy in partnership with the Local Authority for the duration of the Local Authority’s coordinated admission scheme. Once the coordinated scheme is closed, the waiting list will remain open but will be administered by the Trustees of Watling Academy. If a place becomes available, a child’s position on this waiting list will be determined by the application of the Academy’s published over subscription criteria, and length of time on the list will not be a factor in offering a place. Please note each child that is added to the waiting list will require the list to be ranked again in line with the aforementioned oversubscription criteria.
Children who are the subject of a direction by a Local Authority to admit or who are allocated Watling Academy in accordance with the In-Year Fair Access Protocols, or is a successful appellant, will take precedence over those children on a waiting list.
