Secondary transfer

This is done online, using the same website you used for primary school admissions.

It's called e-admissions.  Click here to go to the home page and click on returning visitors.

You can reset your password if you've forgotten it.

You can choose up to 6 schools.  This can include grammar schools if your child has passed the relevant selection test and local schools outside your home borough.  However, it does not include independent (fee-paying) schools.

We strongly recommend that you choose 6 schools. 

The deadline for applying is 31st October each year.  We strongly recommend that you apply before this date and ensure you get an email verification.  You can make changes to this at any point up to the deadline.

Yes, there is a meeting in May each year aimed at families who have children in Year 4 and 5.  Look out for details on ClassDojo and the school newsletter email.

There is also the offer of  1:1 meetings with the Headteacher in October for families of children in Year 6.

Our advice:

1. Go onto googlemaps or equivalent, type your address and search for schools.

2. Find schools that are nearby and visit their websites.

3. Find out when they have open days or evenings and book a visit. 

4. Find out also whether there are any other admission criteria that may offer a better chance of a place e.g. church attendance, banding tests, sport scholarships, pupil premium priority places. Every school is different but this information should be on their website admissions policy.

Some schools have specific criteria for selection, such as church attendance (e.g. Trinity, Bonus Pastor, St Thomas More, Greycoat Hospital), banding tests (e.g. Leigh Academy), sport scholarships (e.g. Kingsdale), pupil premium priority places (e.g. Kent grammars), choral scholarships (e.g. St Olaves) or selection tests.  This means that their 'catchment area' often spreads further afield. 

Again, this requires a look at website admissions policies for individual schools.

We encourage you to minimise the number of days children miss school for open days. Many schools provide open evenings as an alternative. As a guide, try to limit school day visits to your top two or three.  

Everyone has a different view on this but if you want to see a range of schools, it's a good idea to plan ahead and even consider visiting schools before your child is in Year 6. We do not encourage children missing school for open days before they are in Year 6. 

Grammar schools exist in Kent, Bexley and Bromley boroughs.

Each borough has it's own selection testing.  For more information about test dates and registration, please visit the appropriate borough website.

Grammar schools have a good reputation for getting high levels of attainment at GCSE and beyond. However, they are selective and your child will have to pass an 11+ test to be deemed selective. Preparation for these highly competitive tests will require dedication and commitment and a high level of resilience. 

Having said this, many families who have gone through the process with their children have felt that it has built their child's resilience and the experience was, on the whole, a positive one, regardless of outcome.

It's very much a personal choice and it's difficult for teachers to offer advice. 

Quite simply, the vast majority of children will benefit from tutoring. 1:1 or small group tutoring has a proven high impact on attainment.  Of course, much depends upon the quality of tutor and the relationship between child and tutor.

It's also expensive and families may need to prioritise.  Speaking to your child's class teacher is often the best thing to do as they know your child's strengths and areas for improvement.