Applying to start secondary school in 2020 Information about applying for a secondary school place, including how to apply, deciding which schools to apply for, admissions criteria and more. Contents Applying for a secondary school place 2 Important dates 3 Deciding which secondary schools to apply for 4 Visiting schools 4 Admissions criteria 5 Applying for early or late admission 7 How the preference system works 7 How to apply 8 Supplementary information forms 8 Last year’s applications and appeal rates (community schools) 9 Applying for a secondary place after the closing date 9 National offer day – 2 March 2020 10 Appeals 11 Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities 12 Education pathways in Key Stage 4 12 Directory of secondary schools in Lewisham 13 Useful contacts 15 Map of secondary schools in Lewisham 16 Contact: Admissions and Appeals Team, Laurence House, Catford SE6 4RU. Tel: 020 8314 8282 (lines are open Tuesday–Thursday, 9am–1pm). Email: [email protected] Deadline for online applications 11.59pm 31 October 2019 Applying to start secondary school in 2020 Information about admissions arrangements 2 This document is designed to help guide parents and Applying online carers in the Lewisham borough through the admissions You can apply for admission to secondary school at process for transferring to secondary school in September www.eadmissions.org.uk. 2020. This information is also available online at The benefits of applying online are: www.lewisham.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions ●● it only takes a few minutes If you have any questions about the admissions p rocess, call the Admissions Team on 020 8314 8282 ●● you will get an email confirmation saying your (Tuesday to Thursday, 9am–1pm) or email application has been received [email protected]. ●● the system helps you by checking for errors Information provided in this document is subject to ●● there is no risk that your application will get lost in change by the Government or the Schools Adjudicator. the post or arrive late Any amendments will be published at www.lewisham.gov.uk/admissions ●● you can change your preferences of school up until the closing date Applying for a secondary school place ●● your details are held securely This information is for people who live in the Lewisham borough. If your child lives outside the borough, you are ●● after 5pm on 2 March 2020, you will get an email welcome to apply for schools in Lewisham but must do so saying where your child has been offered a place. through your local council. Read a step-by-step guide to applying online at This information relates to community schools only, www.lewisham.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions. there are separate application processes for fee-paying After you submit your application, you will get a (independent) and special needs schools. reference number that will be similar to this: 209-2020-09-E-002009. If you do not get a Secondary school starting age number, your application has not been submitted. Children born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009 are due to start secondary school in September The deadline for submitting online applications is 2020 and can participate in the application process. 11.59pm on 31 October 2019. Useful websites Read everything you need to know Supplementary information forms about applying to start secondary school in the If you are applying under religious or other criteria, you Lewisham borough at www.lewisham.gov.uk/ need to complete a supplementary information form secondaryadmissions. (SIF) and return it directly to the school by Thursday 31 October 2019. You can download the form on the Find out about secondary schools in the borough and school’s website. which are closest to you at www.lewisham.gov.uk/ secondaryschools. Children with an education health care plan Apply online for secondary school places at (EHCP) www.eadmissions.org.uk. If your children has education health care plan (EHCP), you need to follow a different admissions process. For more information, contact the Children with Complex Needs Team on 020 3049 1475. Contact: Admissions and Appeals Team, Laurence House, Catford SE6 4RU. Tel: 020 8314 8282 (lines are open Tuesday–Thursday, 9am–1pm). Email: [email protected] Deadline for online applications 11.59pm 31 October 2019 Applying to start secondary school in 2020 Information about admissions arrangements 3 Important dates Important dates for the admission process for children starting secondary school in September 2020. Applications Schools open for visits September and October 2019 Applications open (apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk) Sunday 1 September 2019 Closing date for applications Thursday 31 October 2019 (we recommend you submit your online application by Friday 18 October 2019) Closing date for supplementary information forms (if required) – Thursday 31 October 2019 return to the school directly Closing date for ‘late for good reason’ applications and those who Thursday 12 December 2019 changed address since 31 October 2018 Offers Application results Monday 2 March 2020 If you applied online, you will get an email after 5pm. If you applied by post, or if you haven’t been offered a place at one of your preferred schools, we will send the results by first class post on 2 March 2020. First class post does not guarantee next-day delivery. Deadline for accepting your offer Monday 16 March 2020 If you applied online, you must accept the offer online. If you filled in a paper application, you should return the acceptance slip to us. Appeals Closing date for lodging an appeal for a community school Monday 30 March 2020 Admissions authorities of other schools may set the same or a later deadline. Appeal hearings June and July 2020 If you submit an appeal after 30 March 2020, it may not be heard until the start of the academic year in September 2020. Contact: Admissions and Appeals Team, Laurence House, Catford SE6 4RU. Tel: 020 8314 8282 (lines are open Tuesday–Thursday, 9am–1pm). Email: [email protected] Deadline for online applications 11.59pm 31 October 2019 Applying to start secondary school in 2020 Information about admissions arrangements 4 Deciding which secondary schools Conisborough College to apply for Wednesday 18 September 9–10.30am When you apply for a secondary school place for your Tuesday 24 September 9–10.30am child, you can put up to six schools on the application. Thursday 26 September 9–10.30am These can be inside or outside the borough of Lewisham. Thursday 26 September 6–8pm (evening) Tuesday 1 October 9–10.30am There are 14 secondary schools in the Lewisham Wednesday 9 October 9–10.30am borough. It is a good idea to research a range of schools, Tuesday 15 October 9–10.30am including ones closest to your home address, as not every child can be offered their first preference school. Deptford Green School Monday 24 September 9–11am We expect most schools in the borough will be Tuesday 25 September 9–11am oversubscribed, so we strongly recommend you look at Wednesday 26 September 9–11am and 5–7pm your nearest schools, including faith or non-faith schools. Thursday 27 September 9–11am When you apply, you should use all six preferences for Friday 28 September 9–11am the best chance of getting a place. Forest Hill School To find out more about secondary schools in the Monday 23 September 5–7pm (evening) borough, and see which are nearest to your home, visit Thursday 26 September 9.30–11.30am www.lewisham.gov.uk/secondaryschools Friday 27 September 9.30–11.30am Visiting schools Thursday 3 October 9.30–11.30am Friday 4 October 9.30–11.30am Before you decide which schools you want to apply for, you should visit the school to meet the staff and see the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College facilities and opportunities available. Thursday 19 September 5.30 –8pm (evening) Saturday 21 September 10am–1pm Headteachers will be pleased to show you around and answer any questions. All secondary schools in the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy borough hold open days so you can visit them with your Wednesday 25 September 5–7pm (evening) child. Prendergast School Before your visit, contact the school directly or check on Wednesday 11 September 9.15–10.40am their website to make sure these times are still correct. Friday 13 September 9.15–10.40am Wednesday 18 September 5.30–7.30pm (evening) Make sure you arrive at the start time for the open days. Friday 20 September 9.15–10.40am If you arrive late, you may not get the chance to tour the school. Prendergast Ladywell School Tuesday 10 September 6–8pm (evening) Addey and Stanhope School Thursday 12 September 9.15–10.30am Thursday 12 September 6–8pm (evening) Tuesday 17 September 9.15–10.30am Tuesday 17 September 9–10.45am Thursday 19 September 9.15–10.30am Thursday 19 September 9–10.45am Tuesday 14 September 9.15–10.30am Wednesday 25 September 9–10.45am Prendergast Vale School Tuesday 1 October 9–10.45am Wednesday 11 September 4.30–6.30pm (evening) Bonus Pastor Catholic College Wednesday 18 September 9.15–10.30am Thursday 19 September 6.30pm and 7.30pm Wednesday 25 September 9.15–10.30am (evening) Wednesday 2 October 9.15 –10.30am Monday 23 September 9.15–11am Wednesday 9 October 9.15 –10.30am Tuesday 24 September 9.15–11am St Matthew Academy Wednesday 25 September 9.15–11am Tuesday 17 September 9.15–11am Wednesday 18 September 9.15–11am Thursday 19 September 9.15–11am Contact: Admissions and Appeals Team, Laurence House, Catford SE6 4RU.