I think Sarah it is not enough to simply answer the question by referring to the Schools Admission Code. In my view the situation is that the governing body of the free school could set their own admissions code and criteria as long as it broadly applies with the Code and other central government guidance. It would be good if you could truly clarify the situation so that people can fully assess the range of impacts on themselves and on their community.
If you are indeed intent on setting up a school before Sept this year then surely this is something which has been considered?

http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/20...-am-truly-
concerned-about-the-fair-admissions-policy-for-free-schools/

The above link to the Local Schools Network website includes a copy of the admissions policy proposed for Toby Young's West London Free School as well as a debate on the subject- and lots of concerns about the impact. Its a different school to this, and its secondary, but it is one of the first in the UK to be published so it could be seen as setting the scene for free school applications.
In the later comments there is also reference to the Government proposing a wholesale rewrite of the admissions code to be ready for July 2011. Not sure how this will work for schools opening in Sept 2011.

I have read the WLFS policy and it seems to basically state that any 'policy' will deal with places that are not filled. It is not entirely clear how places will be allocated initially but I read it as being suitably vague with a potential for first come first served however that is not necessarily the case as it is not explicitly stated. Any remaining places will be filled on a proximity basis after looked after children have been allocated places, much the same priority as there is now. However to me I conclude that initial applications are not restricted in the same way geographically that they are currently, and as pointed out by Satchers in her above post, so in theory, the pupils could come from absolutely anywhere. This supports my view that this school would not necessarily help with the reception place shortage in Lewisham as there is no requirement for them to prioritise Lewisham children. Breaking it down further, it is also unlikely that the school would serve a strict catchment area in the way it does now.

However we need to wait and see but clarity on the admissions policy would need to be clear and consulted upon in due course.

As I see it, and from what I can conclude from the lawyer- drafted WLFS policy this school would operate as private schools do and take any children that apply, probably cherry picking who it wants and leaving the rest.

I would urge anyone interested in admissions to follow the various discussions on Local School Network website which contains a range of views. However the main concern seems to be people not getting the full story!