BOA DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES ACADEMY ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2026

INTRODUCTION

BOA Digital Technologies Academy is an 11–18 academy specialising in digital technologies. It is part of the BOA Group and a sister academy to both BOA Creative, Digital and Performing Arts Academy, and BOA Stage and Screen Production Academy.

Opened in September 2022, BOA Digital is located in the heart of Birmingham, at the centre of the city’s digital and creative industries. It is situated within the Eastside and Knowledge Quarter, close to Aston University, Birmingham City University (BCU) and their new STEAMhouse project.

ADMISSIONS NUMBER(S)

The school has a published admission number (PAN) of 120 for entry into Year 7.

The school will admit up to this number of pupils if sufficient applications are received. Where fewer than 120 applications are submitted, the Academy Trust will offer places to all eligible applicants.

While the school does not currently have a Sixth Form, when one is established in the future, it is expected to have a total capacity of 300 students, with up to 150 places available in Year 12.

The proposed PAN for external applicants to Year 12 is 30, although this figure may be increased if fewer than 100 internal students continue from Year 11 to Year 12.

YEAR 7 APPLICATION PROCESS

The Academy will process applications through the standard local authority (LA) coordinated admissions process. This means you will need to complete your local authority’s Common Application Form by the deadline of 31st October.

In addition, all applicants are strongly advised to take part in a fair banding assessment, which is organised by the Academy. This assessment helps ensure a comprehensive and balanced intake across all ability levels. Registration for the fair banding test must be completed by 24th October.

FAIR BANDING

The Academy will consider all applications for places in line with our fair banding process. Where fewer than 120 applications are received, the Academy will offer places to all applicants.

Applicants who sit the Fair Banding test will be considered for admission first. Those who do not take the test will be classed as ‘non-banded’ and will be ranked for admission after all banded applicants, according to the published oversubscription criteria.

BOA Digital will use fair banding to ensure a comprehensive intake across the full ability range. All applicants who take the test will complete a standardised non-verbal reasoning assessment; this is not a pass or fail test. Based on the results, applicants will be placed into one of five ability bands — Band 1 being the highest ability and Band 5 the lowest. Places will then be allocated proportionally from each band to reflect a broad and balanced intake.

Only applicants who have selected BOA Digital as one of their secondary school preferences via the local authority by 31st October 2025 and have registered for the Fair Banding test will receive an invitation to sit the assessment. The Fair Banding test will take place on 22nd November 2025. The Academy has a PAN (published admission number) of 120 in Year 7. If more applicants apply, then the number of student places in each ability band is as followed:

OVERSUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA

These criteria apply to entry at all phases of the Academy.

If the Academy is oversubscribed, following the admission of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that names the school (once the Academy has been consulted and has agreed), priority for admission will be given in the following order:

1. Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children
   A 'looked after child' or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear [to the admission authority] to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989).
    
2. Siblings
   Children with a current family association — that is, a brother or sister who is attending BOA Digital Technologies Academy at the time of application and who will still be attending when the applicant is admitted. In this context “sibling” means children who are living at the same address and are either:
   
   - A natural brother or sister (including adopted siblings)
   - Stepbrother or sister
   - Foster brother or sister
    
3. Children of Staff at BOA Group
   Children of staff employed by the BOA Group where the member of staff has been employed for one year or more at the time of application; and/or The member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
    
4. Children with Exceptional Medical or Social Needs
   Children with exceptional medical or social needs, supported by written evidence from a relevant professional (e.g. doctor, social worker, educational welfare officer). This evidence must be submitted at the time of application and must clearly demonstrate why attendance at this Academy is essential. Any evidence offered without such focus is deemed inadmissible although the application will then be considered under other criteria.
   
   - The evidence must specifically explain why BOA Digital is more suitable than any other academy, and the difficulties the child would face if not admitted.
   
   Social need’ does not include a preference based on aptitude, ability, or friendships. ‘Medical need’ does not include mild medical conditions.
    
5. Random Allocation
   Remaining places in each band will be allocated by random allocation, overseen by an individual independent of the Academy.

TIE-BREAK

If, after consideration of the oversubscription criteria and a tie breaker is needed, it will be via random allocation for each band.

LATE APPLICATIONS

Late applications must be submitted through the local authority and will be considered after all on-time applications. If the Academy is oversubscribed after processing all on-time applications, parents may request that their child is placed on the Academy’s waiting list.

Late applicants and those who do not attend the fair banding assessment will only be considered if places remain unfilled by applicants who completed the banding process.

IN-YEAR APPLICATIONS

Any applicants wishing to apply for a place at the Academy outside the normal admissions round (Years 7–11) must complete an In-Year Transfer Form, this can be found on the Birmingham School Admissions webpage.

The completed form, along with proof of the students ID (Birth Certificate/Passport) and proof of parents address (utility or council tax bill), should be submitted to the BOA Digital Admissions Team by email at: admissions@boa-digital.co.uk.

Places will be offered to suitable applicants where vacancies exist in the relevant year group. If no places are available, applicants will be added to the waiting list and considered in line with the Academy’s oversubscription criteria.

ADMISSION OF CHILDREN OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL AGE GROUP

Parents may request that their child is admitted outside of their normal age group.
To make such a request, parents should include a written explanation with their application, clearly stating the reasons for the request and providing any relevant supporting evidence.
The Academy will consider each request on an individual basis, considering the specific circumstances of the case and the best interests of the child. This will include consideration of the views of the principal, and any evidence provided by the parent.

WAITING LIST - YEAR 7 APPLICANTS

Subject to any provisions within the local authority’s coordinated admissions scheme, the Academy will operate a waiting list for each of the five ability bands.

In any year where BOA Digital receives more applications than there are places available, waiting lists will be maintained until 2nd January of the following academic year. The lists will be held and managed by BOA Digital.

Parents may request that their child’s name be added to the appropriate waiting list following an unsuccessful application, they must submit this request to the Local Authority Admissions Team. Each waiting list is compiled using the same oversubscription criteria as those used during the original allocation process. No new information can be considered once the lists are formed.

Children’s positions on the waiting lists will be solely determined in accordance with the published oversubscription criteria, and the lists will be reordered each time a child is added or removed.

When a place becomes available within a specific band, it will be offered to the child at the top of the waiting list for that band. If there are no applicants remaining in that band, the Academy may allocate the place to the highest-ranked applicant in an adjacent band.

Offers will be made by letter, and applicants will be asked to accept or decline the offer within one week.

WAITING LIST – IN-YEAR APPLICANTS

Where an in-year application is submitted and the relevant year group is full, the applicant will be placed on a waiting list for that year group. Unlike the main intake, the in-year waiting list will not be banded by ability; instead, all applicants will be included on a single waiting list per year group.

The waiting list will be maintained by BOA Digital, and each applicant’s position will be determined in accordance with the Academy’s published oversubscription criteria. These criteria will continue to apply to all in-year admissions.
The waiting list will be reordered every time a new application is added or a place is offered, to ensure it remains up to date and prioritised correctly.

Should a place become available, it will be offered to the applicant at the top of the waiting list for that year group. Offers will be made in writing, and parents will be required to accept or decline the offer within one week.

APPEALS

All applicants refused a place have a right of appeal to an independent appeal panel constituted and operated in accordance with the School Admission Appeals Code.

Appellants should contact the Head of Admissions at the following address admissions@boa-digital.co.uk for information on how to appeal.

 

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^{Release Date: 20th February 2025 / Review Date: 20th February 2026}

^{Download the policy in PDF form below.}

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