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The schools’ admissions process can be pretty daunting, especially if you are applying for the first time. Whether you are applying for pre-school, primary school or secondary school, you want to make sure that you have fully researched all the options and are making an informed decision, as well as being realistic about which schools you have a chance of getting in to. Following the steps below will ensure you have all the information you need at your fingertips.
The first port of call is the Havering Admissions website. Here you will find a wealth of information about Romford primary and secondary schools, how to apply and how places are allocated. You will also find all the key dates and deadlines for school and nursery applications. There is a vast amount of information here so take some time out to navigate the site.
Checking out individual school's website is a really good way to get a 'feel' for the school before visiting. You can also access all school inspection reports online via the Ofsted website.
Each school will have different admissions criteria and it is definitely worth checking this out for the schools you are interested in. You can access Admissions Statistics documents here.
Another helpful tool is Havering's Online Mapping Tool. This will help you to see how far (in a straight line) any school is from your home. Distance is not considered a criteria but you can see on the admission statistics document how far away the furthest successful applicant was in previous years, giving you an idea if you are in with a chance!
Decide which schools you are interested in and arrange to visit them. This is a vital part of the process and will give you the best idea of what each school is like and give you an opportunity to ask lots of questions. You can find details of the open days on the individual school websites and the Havering Admissions team usually publish a list of open evenings/sessions at appropriate times of the year. Some schools do not arrange formal open days but are happy to show interested parents around the school by appointment.
When the time comes, you must ensure you have completed the Admission Form before the deadline or your application will not be accepted. It is advised to choose 6 schools and enter them in order of preference to ensure you get a school of your choice. If you do not get a school on your list of 6, there is an appeals process.
If you need to contact the Havering Admission team you can do so by clicking here.
Primary School Admissions
Apply for an infant, junior or primary school place for September 2025
- Infant, junior and primary school applications opens on 1 September 2024
- Infant, junior and primary school applications closes on 15 January 2025
- Infant, junior and primary school offer day is the evening of 16 April 2025
If in September 2024 your child attends year 2 in an infant school, you will need to apply for them to transfer to the junior school.
See the primary application brochure here
Secondary School Applications
- Secondary school applications open on 1st September 2024
- Secondary school applications close on 31st October 2024
- Secondary National offer day is 1st March 2025
For all admissions information, including the Secondary Applications Brochure, click here
Appeals
If you are unhappy with the school your child has been offered, you do have the right to appeal the decision.
It is recommended that you accept the school offered to your child even if you do plan to appeal. This will not affect the appeal but will ensire that your child has a place should the appeal not be successful. If your appeal IS successful, then you must tell the school where you have accepted a place that your child will not be attending.
You will find the Appeal Form here.
If your child has a Full Statement of Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) or an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you cannot use this appeal process. You must contact the SEND team on 01708 431885.
