We are delighted that you are interested in a place at Harrietsham Church of England Primary School for your child.

Admissions Process at Harrietsham CEP:

The school’s vision and values provide a basis for spiritual and moral development within the school. All children are welcomed into our inclusive community without reference to their ability, aptitude, gender, race or faith; the school does not discriminate against children with disabilities seeking admission to the school. Children join the school during the academic year that they reach the age of 5.

Harrietsham Church of England Primary School is a Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School.  The school has an agreed Published Admission Number (PAN) of 60 pupils.

Harrietsham Church of England Primary School follows the admissions procedure of Kent County Council. Where the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, the following Oversubscription Criteria will be applied in the order set out here to decide which children should be admitted:

Oversubscription Criteria:

• Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children.
• Current Family Association (Sibling link).
• Health and Special Access Reason.
• Nearness of children's homes to school (Distance).

A waiting list is in operation for any class that is at the Published Admission Number based on the above criteria.

Please refer to the school’s Admissions Policy for further details.

Application Process

Applying for a Reception Place

Detailed information can be found on the KCC website: www.kent.gov.uk/primaryadmissions.

Offers - Parents will receive an email for online applications, or a letter for paper submissions, directly from KCC with the offer of a school place.  Acceptance of the offer must be made directly to the school.

Requests for admission to Reception outside of the normal age group should be made to the Headteacher as early as possible in the admissions round associated with that child’s date of birth, thus allowing the school and admissions authority sufficient time to make a decision before the closing date.  Parents are required to complete an application for the normal point of entry at the same time, in case their request is declined. This application can be cancelled if the school agrees to accept a deferred application for entry into Year R the following year.

Deferred applications must be made via paper Reception Common Application Form (RCAF) to the Local Authority, with written confirmation from the school attached. Deferred applications will be processed in the same way as all applications for the cohort in the following admissions round and offers will be made in accordance with the school’s oversubscription criteria.                                                                                         

Applying for a school place mid-year (In-Year Application)

For school place applications during the school year, please complete an "In Year Casual Application Form" on the KCC website: In Year Admission Form (kent.gov.uk).

Appeals Process

If you are unhappy with the school place you've been offered, you can appeal for any of the schools you named in your application.

We recommend you still accept the place your child has been offered. This will not affect your appeal and will guarantee your child has a school place if your appeal is unsuccessful. If your appeal is successful you must remember to tell the school you were originally offered that you no longer want the place.

If you weren't offered your chosen school, this is usually because the school is full and there were other children who more closely met the school’s oversubscription criteria.

If you are unhappy with your child's education, health and care (EHC) plan, contact the SEND Enquiries Hub.

If your child is due to start primary school in September 2025, you can appeal if you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer Day (Wednesday 17 April 2025).

You must submit your appeal before Tuesday 20 May 2025 for it to be considered by Tuesday 22 July 2025. Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 school days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education.

For late applications, appeals should be heard within 40 school days from the deadline for lodging appeals where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education.

Please see the appeals page of the KCC website in order to make your appeal: https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/appeal-a-school-offer.

In-Year Appeals

If you applied to move your child to our school but were not offered a place, you have the right to make an appeal.

Please see the KCC Appeals page to make your appeal: https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/appeal-a-school-offer.

For help or support with an admission to our school, please contact our Attendance and Admissions Officer, Kathy Roberts, who will always be happy to help.

Email: office@harrietsham.kent.sch.uk

Tel: 01622 859261