Secondary School Fair Access Protocol (FAP)

Section 5 - The operation of Fair Access Panels

Fair Access Panels are now in operation across all of Lancashire and usually meet half termly.  It is for the panels to determine how the pupils are distributed within a district.

The overriding expectation at panel meetings is for schools to be identified for each Fair Access referral.  It is a reasonable expectation however that pupils are only brought to panel with as much background information as is available.

Criteria for consideration may include:

• Parental preference?
• Whose turn is it?
• Is the school reasonably accessible by school or public transport?
• Has the school already admitted Fair Access pupils into the particular year group?
• Has the school admitted looked after children or children with EHC plans to that particular year group?

It is up to individual schools to nominate representatives and ensure attendance. In some districts, the head teachers are the decision makers but, in most cases, it is a senior leader from school, with pastoral responsibility. Representatives of all schools who attend district Fair Access Panel meetings must be empowered to make decisions once a referral has been agreed and take the pupil forward for admission.

If schools choose not to take part in the Fair Access Panel or a representative from a school does not attend a panel, Fair Access referrals will still be made and should be accepted without any second decision making taking place (unless one of the defined exceptions is subsequently identified).

Within these parameters, it is up to panel members to decide how the panels will operate; how they are chaired; and the role of the Pupil Access representative.