How applications to secondary schools are processed

including admissions criteria and waiting lists

London-wide dates

All parents need to return a completed application form to the borough where they live by 24 October 2008, which is the London-wide closing date. 

2 March 2009 is the London-wide date when all offers of a school place will be sent out to parents.

How we deal with applications

Local authorities have a duty to coordinate admissions to their secondary schools for children starting in year 7. To make the admissions process fairer and simpler for parents, all 33 London boroughs, together with eight local authorities bordering the capital, have signed up to the London Schools Admissions System to coordinate admissions to their secondary schools.

The aim of coordinating admissions is to ensure that, by local authorities working together, parents will get a single offer of one of their preferred schools earlier, and fewer will get no offer at all.

All local authorities use a computerised system to exchange details of applications for schools in other areas. The decision on whether a place can be offered will be made by the admissions authority for each school listed on your application form. Where a school is oversubscribed, its published admissions criteria is used to decide the order in which applicants will be offered places. The local authority will not pass on details of how parents have ranked a particular school and no school will be told about other schools to which a parent has applied.

If it appears a child is eligible for a place at more than one school, local authorities will offer whichever school is ranked highest on the application form. 

Late applications

Community secondary schools

Applications received after the closing date of 24 October 2008 will be regarded as late. The local authority as the admissions authority for community secondary schools will accept late applications only if they are late for a good reason. Examples include: 

• when a single parent has been ill for some time or has been dealing with the death of a close relative 
• a family has recently moved into the borough or is returning from abroad (proof of ownership or tenancy of a property within the borough will be required in these cases).                  

Other circumstances will be considered and each case decided on its merits.

Voluntary aided secondary schools

The governors, as the admissions authority for voluntary aided schools, will decide whether or not to accept late applications and their decisions will be made in accordance with their published arrangements for dealing with late applications.

If your child is due to start secondary school in September 2009 and you have missed this year's closing date of 24 October 2008 please contact the school admissions section as soon as possible.

Admissions criteria

Admissions criteria for community secondary schools (Fulham Cross, Henry Compton, Hurlingham and Chelsea, Phoenix High)

Admissions criteria for voluntary aided schools - Sacred Heart High School, London Oratory and Lady Margaret and Burlington Danes Academy.

Waiting Lists

Community secondary schools
Waiting lists will be held for all four community secondary schools in the borough. The local authority will hold the waiting lists until the start of September in order to provide parents with a single point of contact during the holiday period. The list will be passed to the relevant school in the second week of September and the school will administer the list according to the admissions criteria (see above). 

Voluntary aided secondary schools
The four voluntary aided secondary schools in the borough will publish their arrangements for dealing with applicants who wish to be placed on their waiting lists. Applicants will need to establish the position with individual schools.

Admission appeals

Under the terms of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, you have the right to appeal to an independent panel for a place at a school where you have been refused a place for your child. If this school is a voluntary aided school, you must contact that school for details of how to appeal. For community schools, contact the school admissions section at the education department. Any places won on appeal are in addition to the published admissions number for the school. 

Pupils with statements

If your child has a statement of special educational needs, the arrangements for transfer to secondary school are normally started following the child's annual review in year 5.

Children with special educational needs receive support in a mainstream school or attend a special school. Hammersmith & Fulham Council tries to provide local special schools to meet local children’s needs but, in exceptional circumstances, we may have to look for a special school outside the borough.  

There are three day special schools for secondary age pupils in Hammersmith & Fulham - Jack Tizard School, Woodlane High School and Cambridge School - contact details

Admission numbers

Admission numbers for each school - details of applications received and set admission numbers for each school at entry in year 7.