Academy Admissions
Admissions Arrangements 2026-2027
Following the consultation in the academic year 2024 on our admissions arrangements, this is a reminder that our admissions policy for new admissions from 2025 onwards, is different to previous years. The policy can be viewed via the following link here, or alternatively, at the bottom of this page.
Below are some FAQ's based on the ratified changes to the admissions policy:
What does this mean for my child if they are currently in Year 6?
There were two changes to the admissions policy last year:
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Children who apply to join the Academy in Year 7 in 2026, will be invited to complete a banding test at the Academy in December 2025. This is quite standard across the Harris Federation and is nothing to worry about or be nervous about. The banding test is not a ‘pass or fail test’ as it is designed to make sure that we have a comprehensive intake. As a school, we want to make sure that we have students joining us from all ability ranges and the banding test helps us to do that. Please find in the document section below, a fact sheet regarding the banding test, as well as the supplementary information form.
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We also reduced the number of places available to Year 7 to 120. This means we will have 60 less places available to children in Year 7 from 2025.
Can I still get a place if my other child is at Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
Yes. This part of the policy has not changed. Children who have an EHCP, are Looked After, have a sibling at the Academy, attend Harris Primary Orpington or are children of staff will still be allocated places first.
What do I do if I have any questions about this?
If you have any questions or are unsure about anything at all, please email info@harrisorpington.org.uk and we will aim to get back to you within 24 hours.
We welcome applicants of all academic abilities and backgrounds. In this section of our website you will find details of our admissions process. Our full policy, with details of our admissions criteria, can be downloaded below.
There are 120 places available in Year 7 every September and applications are made through the London Borough of Bromley’s coordinated admissions process.
Harris Academy Orpington will set admission arrangements annually. Where changes are proposed to admission arrangements there will be a public consultation on these arrangements. If no changes are made to admission arrangements the Academy consultation will only take place at least every seven years.
Parents are strongly advised to read carefully the full Academy Admissions Policy 2026-27(see at the bottom of the page) 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 2025. 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 Orpington, as there are several different Harris Academies and an entry of simply “Harris Academy” will be ignored.
- BANDING TEST DAY is on Friday 12th December 2025. Your child will only need to sit ONE test, even if you have listed more than one Harris Academies on your CAF form as we share our results.
- Supplementary Form: you will only need to fill and return this form to us by Monday 11th November 2025 if your child has Special Education Needs; please see below to download the form.
- Be sure to include at least three different schools on your preference form.
In March 2026, 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 Admissions at the Academy.
If you are unhappy that you did not receive an offer of a school place at Harris Girls' Academy Bromley, you have the right to lodge an independent appeal with us.
Please find our prospectus below.
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| View Digital Prospectus Online | Download a PDF |
Academy admissions: contact details
Contact: Ms Gatton
Telephone: 01689 819 219
Opening Events - September 2025
Please click here or scan the QR code to book your place on the Open Events in September 2025 via MS Forms. Please note that we will do our best to accommodate your first option event date and time, but that spaces are very limited.
- Opening Evening - Thursday 25th September 2025 5.00pm – 8.00pm
- Open Mornings - Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Friday 26th September 2025: 9:00am – 10:00am – bookings only.
Year 7 Key Dates 2026-2027
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25 September 2025 |
Open Evening for Year 7 and Sixth Form |
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22, 23, 24 & 26 September 2025 |
Year 7 and Y12 Open Mornings - 9:00-10:00 - please book a space |
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31 October 2025 |
CAF forms returned to home Local Authority |
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12 December 2025 |
Banding Day |
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2 March 2026 |
National Offer Day - Local Authority informs parents/carers of allocated school |
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15 April 2026 |
4pm deadline for appeals to be made in writing to the Academy |
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From 25 April 2026 onwards |
Appeal heard |
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1 September 2026 |
Waiting Lists closed and replaced by casual admissions waiting lists. Parents/Carers will need to re-apply as a casual admission, if still waiting. |
In-year admissions
If you are looking for a place in Harris Academy Orpington 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 Orpington. Please contact Admissions at the Academy, (contact details above) to request an in-year admission form, or download the 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 who wish to appeal
Any parent(s) wishing to appeal against the academy’s decision on admissions, for any year group, should complete an appeal form stating the reason for the appeal, based on the published admissions criteria. You can also obtain an appeals form by contacting the academy by phone, email or in person.
Completed forms should be sent to the Clerk to the Admissions Appeal Panel at: Harris Academy Orpington, Tintagel Road, Orpington, Kent, BR5 4LG. Completed appeal forms must be received by the academy by the closing date 15th April 2026 at 4pm. Please note: the academy does not provide help with appeals.
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; the provisional dates have been booked to be during the months of April/May.
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. Appeals must be made by 15th April 2026.
Appeals lodged after these dates will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline or 30 school days of being lodged, whichever is the later date.
Additional supporting information
If an appellant wishes to submit further evidence, which was not included with their initial appeal, they should ensure this is received at least seven clear working days (not counting the day of postage or the hearing) in advance of your appeal.
Only a short document, such as a doctor’s letter not previously available, will be accepted up to five clear working days prior to the hearing. Any additional evidence or information received after this deadline will not be circulated and may not be considered at the hearing.
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. Appellants will be sent notification of their appeal hearing at least ten clear school days in advance of the hearing. Appellants will be sent a copy of the school's case at least seven clear working days in advance of the hearing.
Post 16 applications
Before applying, you should read our Sixth Form Information and details on admissions criteria, which can be found here.
For further information on the process of admissions into a secondary school, please see the Bromley’s Secondary School admissions page https://www.bromley.gov.uk/secondary-school-admissions/secondary-school-places.
