Academy Admissions

Welcome to the Harris Academy Admissions information page. Please look at our news page for details of our open evenings for prospective Parents, Carers and Students. Our full policy, with details of our admissions criteria, can be downloaded from further down the page.  A brief summary of the application procedure follows for Year 7 and in-year admissions.

Academy Admissions Contact Details:

Year 7 Applications for September 2022 start

In order to ensure that the Academy continues to be truly comprehensive, the Governors amended the admissions procedures to include banding arrangements.  The aim is to admit the same proportions of students by ability as the national distribution curve.  In this way we can ensure that our Academy will continue to serve students of all abilities. Our tests organise children into 9 bands according to their scores on the test with 9 being the highest band and 1 the lowest. We use a national formula to establish how many places we offer in each band e.g. there will be more places offered in the average bands of 4 and 5 than in the extreme bands of 1 and 9.

There are two opportunities to sit the test, one before the deadline for completing the CAF on 8^th October 2021 and one after for those that miss the first on 10^th December 2021.  There will not be any more test dates available, if your child is not able to attend any of the days then they will automatically be placed into the Untested band.

EARLY BANDING TEST - Friday 8^th October 2021

This early testing day will enable you to see your child’s banding before you apply to our school. This is very important information because there is significant variation between the distances of places offered in each band. For those who sit the early test, we will write to tell you your child’s banding information and the distances offered in 2019-20 for each band. This will help you decide whether to choose Harris Academy Greenwich. Our early testing day is Friday 8^th October 2021, the test is a non-verbal reasoning test: there is no pass or fail and students do not have anything to revise. 

If you wish your child to sit the early banding test, please complete the early banding supplementary form which can be found under documents at the bottom of this page.  Please ensure that the form is returned no later than Tuesday 21^st September 2021, to j.henderson@harrisgreenwich.org.uk or posted to the acedemy for the attention of Jan Henderson.

MAIN BANDING TEST 10^th DECEMBER 2021

This will be the final testing day for those families who miss the early one.

All parents who name Harris Academy Greenwich on the Common Application Form (CAF) will be automatically invited to sit our admissions test if you have not sat already to determine which ability band their child falls into, the invite will be emailed out in November.

The following table outlines the bands and the furthest distance offered in 2019-20. This can only act as a guide because it cannot tell you the true figures for this academic year.

Allocation for September 2020

Allocation for September 2021

We will write to all parents/carers with the exact time of the test approximately one week before the testing day. If you have named more than one Harris Academy on the Common Application Form you will only need to sit the test ONCE and will be notified as to which academy will be contacting you with details of your child's/ward's appointment.  

For more information please read the admissions policy in full or contact Mrs Henderson at the Academy.

If you require a concession in the admission test (for example for SEN or medical needs), you must complete the supplementary information form which can be downloaded from the bottom of the page and return it directly to the academy along with medical or professional evidence and proof of residence by the agreed date (to be confirmed).  Please note that the completion of a supplementary information form for Harris Greenwich does not constitute an application to the academy. You must complete the Local Authority Common Application Form as well.

Admission Arrangements 2022-23

The Governing Body of Harris Academy Greenwich met on Monday 1st February 2021 to review and consider the responses of the admission consultation. Following careful consideration, the admission arrangements for 2022-23 were determined. The arrangements can be found below.

View Digital Prospectus Online		Download a PDF

 

In-Year Applications

If you are looking for a place in Harris Academy Greenwich because you have recently moved into the area, or your child is at another secondary school and you feel that a change of school would benefit their education and/or general well-being, you are entitled to apply for a school place. 

Since September 2013, the law allows you to apply directly to Harris Academy Greenwich.  Please contact Admissions at the Academy, (contact details above) to request an in-year admission form, or download form (see below). Please note that there is no guarantee that a place will be available, but you have the right of appeal if you are refused a place.

For Parents/Carers who Wish to Appeal

Parent(s) wishing to appeal against the Academy’s decision on admissions, for any year group, should complete an Appeal Form (see below) stating the reason for the appeal, based on the published Admissions Criteria.

Completed forms should be sent to the Clerk to the Appeal Panel at:

Harris Academy Greenwich, Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, London SE9 5EQ

The appeals will be heard, in private, by an Independent Appeal Panel. The Clerk to the Appeal Panel will make an appointment within a reasonable time, Appeals may be made in English or the Parents’/Carers’ first language.

• Only one appeal per application is allowed.
• Appeals are conducted in person, and you may bring a friend.

The Appeal Hearing

The Academy will arrange for an Independent Appeals Panel to consider the Academy's reasons for refusal and your reasons for wanting to attend the Academy.  

The Panel will consist of 3 people (2 will have education experience and one will be an independent person with no education experience).

The Panel will consider the case put forward by you and the Academy. They must consider the admission arrangements for the Academy and the reasons why you want to attend that particular school.  The Panel must exercise its discretion by balancing the weight of your argument (for wanting to attend) against the Academy’s reasons for refusal i.e. the prejudice that one more student would cause to the education of the students already offered and the Health and Safety of all the students already attending the Academy, also taking into account the Academy's published admission arrangements.  

The decision of the Independent Appeals Panel is binding on the admissions authority and the Parents.

We serve our local community and aim to create a unique and outstanding place of learning for all, regardless of ability and background. We don't play admissions games: there are no tricks and no catches. We serve our local community and expect our students to make outstanding progress regardless of ability or background.