You can find answers to frequently asked questions on the primary school admissions process on this page.
When should I apply for a reception place for my child?
You can obtain and complete a Common Application Form between November and February.
See the key dates page for the exact dates for this year's admission process.
You will be sent a letter early in May the following year, telling you the outcome of your application.
If I apply early, is my application more likely to be successful?
No. All applications are considered after the closing date, in accordance with the admissions criteria.
How many schools can I apply for?
You can apply for up to four Lewisham schools and list them in preference order. If you wish to apply to schools in other boroughs, you are advised to contact the Admissions Team of the borough concerned, who will have their own admission forms and arrangements. See the overview of the admission process page for further details.
What if I am not offered a place at one of the schools of my preference?
A place at a local school with a vacancy will be offered and you may request a list of other Lewisham schools with vacancies.
You have the right of appeal under the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.
Will my child’s name be kept on the ‘waiting list’ if my application is unsuccessful?
Every child who has been unsuccessful in gaining a place will be invited to apply to be added to the waiting list by completing a form. If a vacancy occurs during the reception year, the place will be offered to the next child who fulfils the published admissions criteria. The order of the list will change as families move in and out of the borough.
Please note that if you have asked to be kept on the waiting list for a school, and a place can subsequently be offered, we will offer the place to you and automatically withdraw any place that you have already been offered if it was a lower preference.
It is very important that if you decide that you are happy with a school you have been offered and no longer wish to be on the waiting list for a higher preference school, you inform the Admissions Team immediately.
What happens if I move after my child has been offered a place?
You must be resident at your address when the provisional offer is made and provide acceptable proof of that address to the school within 14 days.
If you move after that time, the offer of a place will still be honoured but you must ensure that your child always arrives and is picked up on time and that the journey is reasonable.
See the late applications page for more information.
Can my child transfer to another school if necessary?
Yes, if there is a vacancy. Prior to the start of the school year, applications must be made through the Admissions Team. After September, applications are made direct to schools. If possible, transfers should be arranged so that your child can start at the beginning of a new term or following a half-term break.
Do I get priority in the reception class if my child is on the roll of the nursery in the same primary school?
No. A place in a nursery class does not give a child a greater claim than another applicant for a place in the reception class at that school. A separate application must be made.
How do you measure home-to-school distance?
We use a highly accurate computerised measuring system based on national Ordnance Survey maps.
You can use electronic tools such as our find your nearest school pages, or Up My Street (follow the link on the right) to get an estimate of the distance between your home and local schools.
Important note: you should only use these tools as a guide, as they are not as accurate as the measuring system that we use.