Academy Admissions

Appeals - important update

In light of the current situation regarding the Covid-19 virus, we have taken the decision to extend the date by which admission appeal forms need to be returned to the Academy to 30 April 2020. 

Where possible, if you have not done so already, please submit your appeal forms by email to A.Graham@harrispeckham.org.uk. Alternatively, completed forms should be posted to the Clerk to the Appeal Panel at Harris Academy Peckham, 112 Peckham Road, London, SE15 5DZ.

Depending on the situation at the time it is hoped appeals will be held at the end of June/beginning of July 2020.

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Welcome to the Harris Academy Peckham 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 at the bottom of the page. A brief summary of the application procedure follows, for Year 7 and in-year admissions. You can also download our prospectus below.

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Academy admissions contact details

Year 7 applications

The Academy has an admission number of 180 in Year 7 for September 2021.

For admissions into the next year’s Year 7, parents and carers are required to complete an on-line application form, known as the Common Application Form (CAF) which can be found at http://www.eadmissions.org.uk. No applications direct to the Academy can be accepted.

Parents are strongly advised to read carefully the full Academy Admissions Policy 2021-2022 and information and advice from the local authority. The main points to remember are:

• You must submit an application form to your Local Education Authority if applying online by 31 October 2020. A place at any secondary school can only be offered if an application has been received.
• Think carefully about the order in which you place your chosen schools on the form. You should enter your most preferred school first on the list. Please remember to enter the full name of Harris Academy Peckham. There are several different Harris academies and an entry of simply “Harris Academy” will be ignored.

On 1st March 2021, the local authority will notify you of the school where your child has been offered a place. If you are happy with the offer, you MUST ACCEPT this place by returning the acceptance form to the local authority.

If you are unhappy that you did not receive an offer of a school place at Harris Academy Peckham, you have the right to lodge an independent appeal with us.

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Year 7 key dates

In-year applications

If you are looking for a place in Harris Academy Peckham 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 Peckham. Please contact Admissions at the Academy (contact details above) to request a mid-year admission form, or you can download it from 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.

If you wish to appeal you must contact Admissions at the Academy who will send you an appeals form to complete.

Completed forms should be sent to the Clerk to the Appeal Panel at Harris Academy Peckham, 112 Peckham Road, London, SE15 5DZ.

Completed appeal forms for Year 7, must be received by the Academy by the closing date of 30th April 2020.

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 three people (two 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.

For more information on admissions please visit Southwark Council's secondary admission page at https://www.southwark.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions/secondary-admissions