Secondary school admissions
The following information is for children starting in Year 7 of a new school in 2020.
Applying
Children born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009 are due to start year seven at secondary school in September 2020.
Use the eAdmissions website from 1 September to apply online for your child’s secondary school place.
You can name up to six schools in your application including academy or free schools and schools in other council areas.
If you do not live in the borough, you need to apply through your own council and you can include Richmond schools in your application.
The closing date for applying for a year 7 place is 31 October 2019.
Before you apply
Please read before applying:
- Personal Information Policy and validity of information given
- Secondary Admission brochure
(pdf, 2.53 MB) - Frequently asked questions about starting school (pdf, 252 KB)
When making your application in eAdmissions you should:
- Complete a separate application for each child if you are applying for twins or triplets
- Tell us in your application if your child will have a brother or sister (sibling) attending your preferred school(s) in September 2020.
Certain schools need additional information to apply their admissions criteria and may require you to also complete a Supplementary Information Form. For example, schools that prioritise applications by faith. If you are applying for this type of school, please check the school's website for further information and to download a Supplementary Information Form.
If your child has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or a Statement of Special Education Needs, you don’t need to complete the application.
Applying for an in-year place
If you are not applying for a Secondary place in September 2020 you should read our in-year admissions information.
Application outcome
If you have not been offered your highest school preference, you may it helpful to read Transfer to secondary school September 2019 - your questions answered (pdf, 167 KB) (2020 version coming soon), which includes frequently answered questions. If you have further enquiries, which cannot be found in these notes, please feel free to contact the Admissions Team.
Online
If you have applied online:
- You will be sent an email during the evening of Monday 2 March 2020 to tell you the outcome of your application. The availability of results for viewing will be staggered to assist demand, so precise timings cannot be guaranteed. You will also be able to view this information by logging in to the eAdmissions website.
- Use the eAdmissions website to tell us if you wish to accept or refuse the school place your child has been offered. The deadline to do this is Monday 16 March 2020. Submitting your response online guarantees that the school knows your decision.
- If your child did not qualify for a place at your first preference school, you will also be sent a letter by first class post on Monday 2 March 2020 with more information about the process and what to do next.
Paper
If you applied on a paper form:
- A letter containing the outcome will be sent to parents/carers by first class post on Monday 2 March 2020.
- Please use the reply slip sent with your letter to tell us if you wish to accept or refuse the school place your child has been offered. The deadline to do this is Monday 16 March 2020. Returning your reply by the deadline guarantees that the school knows your decision.
Your right to appeal
You have a legal right to appeal against a decision not to offer your child a place at any or all of the schools that you've applied to. You can appeal for a place at your preferred school even though your child may have a place somewhere else.
The process
The admissions authority for the school you're applying to must explain why your child hasn't been offered a place at that school. They must also explain how you can appeal against this decision.
Your appeal will be heard by a panel which is independent of the school and the admissions authority whose decision you're appealing against. You've the right to attend the hearing to explain your case to the independent appeal panel.
There are strict rules around the appointment of the appeal panel members to ensure their impartiality and independence. The panel's decision has to be accepted by the admissions authority and the school.
You may find it helpful to read the guidelines on the appeal process on the admission appeals page.
Appeals timetable - Transfer to secondary school in September 2020
For the appeals timetable for any academy, free, or voluntary aided school, please contact the school directly.
Contact School Admissions
Ensure you have read all of the content on this page, as well as the relevant FAQs, before contacting the team.
The School Admissions Team
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Education and Children's Services
Guildhall 2
High Street
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1EU
Telephone: 020 8547 5569
Email: richmond.admissions@achievingforchildren.org.uk
The School Admissions Team can be contacted by telephone between the hours of 9am and 2pm Monday to Friday.