Academy Admissions
Admissions Consultation 2025 – 2026 - Update: March 2024
Following the recent consultation on our admissions arrangements, we have updated our admission policy for new admissions from 2025. The new policy can be viewed via the following link here, or alternatively, at the bottom of this page.
The Governing Board carefully considered all responses received during the consultation period before making decisions in respect of the admissions arrangements and these were finalised and formally ratified by the Board on 20th February 2024. The policy was unchanged from the admissions arrangements that were published for consultation.
What does this mean for my child if they are currently in Y5?
There are two changes to the admissions policy:
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Children who apply to join the Academy in Y7 in 2025, will be invited to complete a banding test at the Academy in December 2024. This is quite standard across the Harris Federation and is nothing to worry or be nervous about. The banding test is not a ‘pass or fail test’ as 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 have also decided to reduce the number of places available to Y7 to 120. This means we will have 60 less places available to children in Y7 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.
Opening evening and mornings for Y7 and Y12 - September 2024
Please click HERE or scan the QR Code below to book your place on the Open Events in September 2024 using our online form.
- Opening Evening - Thursday 26th September 2024 5.00pm – 8.00pm.
- Open mornings - Open Morning: Monday 23rd, Tuesday 24th Wednesday 25th and Friday 27th September 2024, 9.00am start to 10.00am finish.
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 180 places available in Year 7 every September and applications are made through the London Borough of Bromley’s coordinated admissions process. Following consultation, from September 2025 entry, there will be 120 places available in Year 7.
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 7 years.
A copy of the approved Admissions Policy for 2023-24 and onwards, can be found below.
Please find our prospectus below.
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| View Digital Prospectus Online | Download a PDF |
Year 7 Key Dates 2023-2024
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For parents who wish to appeal - Year 7 admissions 2023-24
Year 7 Transitions Admissions for the Year 2023-2024 has now closed. Should you wish to apply for an in-year admission, please refer to the Admission Policy - September 2023 Intake and determined application form found at the bottom of this page.
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 Appeal Panel at: Harris Academy Orpington, Tintagel Road, Orpington, Kent, BR5 4LG. Please note: the academy does not provide help with appeals.
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 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 lodged will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline or 30 school days of being lodged, whichever is the later date.
Year 7 Key Dates 2024-2025
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1 March 2024 |
National Offer Day - Local Authority informs parents/carers of allocated school |
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15 April 2024 |
4pm deadline for appeals to be made in writing to the Academy |
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From 25 April 2024 onwards |
Appeal heard |
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1 September 2024 |
Waiting Lists closed and replaced by casual admissions waiting lists. Parents/Carers will need to re-apply as a casual admission, if still waiting. |
For parents who wish to appeal - Year 7 admissions 2024-25
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 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 2024 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 2024.
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.
Year 7 Key Dates 2025-2026
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26 September 2024 |
Open Evening for Year 7 and Sixth Form |
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23, 24, 25 & 27 September 2024 |
Year Y and Y12 Open Mornings - 9:00-10:00 - please book a space |
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31 October 2024 |
CAF forms returned to home Local Authority |
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13 December 2024 |
Banding Day |
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1 March 2025 |
National Offer Day - Local Authority informs parents/carers of allocated school |
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15 April 2025 |
4pm deadline for appeals to be made in writing to the Academy |
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From 25 April 2025 onwards |
Appeal heard |
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1 September 2025 |
Waiting Lists closed and replaced by casual admissions waiting lists. Parents/Carers will need to re-apply as a casual admission, if still waiting. |
For parents who wish to appeal - Year 7 admissions 2025-26
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 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 2025 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 2025.
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.
