We are required to consult on and set the school admission arrangements for community and voluntary-controlled schools every year.
The Admissions Policy is for:
- Community nursery schools
- Community and voluntary-controlled primary schools
- Community secondary schools
- School Admissions Policy 2026 to 2027 (PDF, 331 KB)
- School Admissions Policy 2025 to 2026 (PDF, 325 KB)
We must carry out a formal consultation before setting the admissions arrangements. View details of the most recent School Admissions Policy consultation.
We also coordinate admissions to a number of voluntary-aided schools and foundation schools, but we are not admissions authority for these schools.
You can contact these schools directly to find out about their own admissions policies, or find them in the:
- School Admissions Booklet 2025 to 2026 (PDF, 4 MB)
- School Admissions Booklet 2026 to 2027 (PDF, 7 MB)
Variation of determined Admissions Arrangements 2026 to 2027
Following consultation between 3 December 2024 and 17 January 2025, the Cardiff Admissions Arrangements 2026 to 2027 were determined on 20 March 2025. The Council was later made aware of an error in its arrangements relating to St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School.
The previous arrangements determined by the Governing Body of the school gave priority to learners resident within the community of Old St Mellons. The boundaries of this area differed to the catchment area published by Cardiff Council.
The area determined by the Governing Body was included in its admissions arrangements for a number of years and the boundary of this area differed to the boundary published on the Council's website.
In accordance with the requirements of the Admissions Code, the Council has referred this to Welsh Ministers for determination.
If determined, the varied arrangements would include a catchment area for St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School that is the Old St Mellons Community.
