School admissions policies

Our admissions policy applies to mainstream community schools, including:  

• nursery schools and classes
• primary schools
• secondary schools
• sixth form colleges

Our admissions policy does not apply to:

• faith schools
• foundation schools
• free schools 
• academies

You can contact them directly to find out about their own admissions policies.

Admissions policy 2027-28

Attached are the consultation documents for Lewisham’s admissions arrangements for the academic year 2027-28. The policy includes the proposal to permanently reduce the published admission numbers in specific year groups at the following schools:

• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Rangefield Primary School to 30 for 26/27 and 27/28 planned rounds
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Rangefield Primary School to 30 for the in-year reception round which was the 25/26 planned round
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Forster Park Primary School to 30 for 26/27 and for 27/28 planned rounds
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Forster Park Primary School to 30 for the in-year reception round, which was the 25/26 planned round
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Deptford Park Primary School to 30 for 26/27 and 27/28 planned rounds
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Deptford Park Primary School to 30 for in-years reception which was the 25/26 planned round and current in-years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Launcelot Primary School to 30 for 27/28
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Launcelot Primary School to 30 for in-year reception round which was the 25/26 planned round
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Athelney Primary School to 30 for in-year reception which was the 25/26 planned round
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Athelney Primary School to 30 for 26/27 and 27/28 planned rounds
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Elfrida Primary School to 30 for in-year reception which was the 25/26 planned round
• the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Elfrida Primary School to 30 for 26/27 and 27/28 planned rounds
• the reduction of the current Published Admissions Number at Twin Oaks Primary School to 30 for current in-years 5 and 6

Rational for the reductions: the declining demand for school places has meant that a number of schools have not received a sufficient number of pupils to utilise all their available forms of entry. A reduction in PAN will enable them to plan with greater certainty in terms of staffing, curriculum delivery and financial viability. 

The admissions policy also contains:

• the admissions policy for all mainstream community nursery schools and classes, primary and secondary schools and sixth form
• the coordinated schemes for transfer to primary and secondary school
• the locally coordinated in year admissions arrangements to participating mainstream schools and academies
• the planned admissions limit for all community mainstream schools

Comments are invited on all elements of the arrangements but would be particularly welcomed in respect of the proposed reduction of the published admission number (PAN) for the schools listed. Full copies of the consultation documents can be found below. Faith, foundation, free schools and academies in the area will publish their arrangements on their own websites.

The deadline for responses to the consultation is 4pm on Wednesday 26 November 2025  and the responses should be submitted to schooladmissions@lewisham.gov.uk, with the subject heading Admissions Consultation 2027/28.

Documents

• Consultation Notice 2027-28
• Draft Admission Arrangements 2027-28
• Pan-London Schemes 2027-28 Appendix 2
• In Year coordination of Admissions 2027-28 Appendix 4