This admissions process is for children in Year 6 who will start secondary school in the following September.
If you have moved to the area or wish to change secondary schools you can apply to change schools ‘in-year’ and be offered a place to start as quickly as possible. If you want your child to go to a different school, discuss any concerns with your current school. Changing schools can be very disruptive for children.
Before you start you might find it useful to read through our secondary transfer guide which contains all of the key information you need to make your applications.
View an online information session using your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. School admissions staff will host the briefings.
Open events at Hackney secondary schools are held in September and October. These are for families with children who will transfer to secondary school in September, but anyone can attend. Please visit the school’s website for dates and times of their open days.
There is a separate transfer process for Year 6 pupils who have an Education, Health and Care Plan or are issued with a draft plan. You will get an application form to complete from the Education, Health and Care Planning (EHCP) team. You should use this form to list the schools you prefer for your child.
- Read the Hackney Local Offer website for more information or call 020 8820 7000
Important dates
| Date | Activity/action required |
|---|---|
| 1 September | Online applications open |
| September / October | Open days and evenings at Hackney secondary schools |
| September / October | Cognitive ability tests for children attending Hackney primary schools |
| 24 October | Hackney closing date |
| 31 October | Statutory closing date |
| November | Cognitive ability tests for children attending primary schools outside Hackney |
| December | Last date to: explain why your application was late request changes to your application submitted on time provide evidence of a change of address |
| 1 March | National Offer Day |
| 15 March | Last date to respond to your offer |
| 1 September | Children start secondary school |
If your application is submitted after the statutory closing date, it will be considered late unless exceptional reasons prevented you from applying on time. For example:
- you are a single parent and have been seriously ill for an extended period
- a member of your immediate family has died
- your family has recently moved into the area or has just returned from abroad (in this case we’ll also need to see proof of ownership or tenancy of a property within Hackney as well as a utility bill)
After December your application will be late regardless of the circumstances and will only be considered after all applications that were sent in on time have been dealt with. This is most likely to be after 1 March, but you may still receive a letter telling you the outcome of your application on this date.
You must apply online for a secondary school place from 1 September. The online system is available 24 hours 7 days a week. Applications will be accepted up to the closing date of 31 October.
How to apply
To apply online you will need an email address to register on the eadmissions website. If you don’t have an email address you can go to Google mail and click on the ‘Create an account’ button.
Once you have registered you will be sent an email giving details of how to start your application. Once you’re happy with your application, make sure you press the ‘Submit Application’ button. After you have submitted your application you can make changes as many times as you like up until midnight on 31 October. If you apply after 31 October you can submit your application only once.
The address you give must be your child’s current permanent address (the place where they spend most of their time Monday to Friday). If you give false or misleading information about your (or your child’s) address, the school place may be withdrawn, and you may be prosecuted.
- Find out more about providing your home address (including applying from overseas and moving house)
If you have twins, triplets or multiple birth children you must apply separately for each child. Some schools give special consideration to multiple birth children so that they are offered the same school.
To help you we have prepared a step-by-step guide to submitting your application. You can read the guide as you make your application.
- Read the step-by-step guide
If you wish to change your preferences before the closing date, 31 October, you must login to the online application system, make changes and then resubmit your application. You will be sent a confirmation email after you have submitted your changes.
If you applied on time, but decide to change your preferences after the closing date, the changes will only be reflected after national offer day on 1 March.
Help and support
If you need help logging into your online application or registering to apply online you can contact the London eAdmissions support helpdesk on 020 8255 5555 (option 1 or 4).
If you have any other problems using the system please contact the admissions team on 020 8820 7000 (option 3) or email secondary.transfer@hackney.gov.uk
After you have applied
You must complete the application process fully. After you have submitted your application correctly you will receive an email with your application reference number. You do not need to seek further confirmation from the admissions team.
If you do not get a confirmation email you should go back to the online application and complete the process. The system will clearly indicate the date and time that the application was submitted.
Supplementary Information Forms (SIF)
Religious schools will ask for extra information about your membership of a particular faith. You will need to complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) and return it to the school concerned if you want to be given priority under their faith based criteria.
The following religious secondary schools in Hackney will ask you to complete a supplementary form: