School admissions policies

Read the admissions policy for our nursery, primary and secondary schools.

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 2028-29

In accordance with the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 Lewisham is consulting on its admissions policy and arrangements for the 2028/29 admissions year. This includes:

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 numbers for all community mainstream schools
changes to the admissions arrangements/policies as recommended by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator including updated clarification on:
- sixth form admissions
- sibling criterion
- children of staff priority
- summer born and requests to be educated out of cohort
- waiting list
- distance measurement and tie breaks
- updated definition of looked after and previously looked after children

Proposal to add Managed Moves to the Second criterion (medical/social) for community schools for 26/27, 27/28 and 28/29 rounds

Under the School Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions guidance issued in June 2026 (which took effect on July 26, 2026), there are strict rules regarding school vacancies and the prioritisation of managed moves. A school cannot admit a pupil on a managed move if it has no vacancies, unless that child sits at the absolute top of the school's waiting list.

Rationale for adding managed moves to the second criterion

The inclusion of pupils who have been subject to a managed move within the second criterion recognises the importance of supporting vulnerable children who have experienced disruption to their education. Managed moves are typically used as an intervention to prevent permanent exclusion and to secure a more suitable educational placement.

Giving appropriate priority to these pupils helps promote educational stability, supports successful reintegration, and reflects the local authority's commitment to inclusion and safeguarding. It also encourages schools to participate in managed move arrangements by helping ensure that pupils can access appropriate school places without undue delay.

Comments

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. A full copy of the consultation documents can be found here. Faith, foundation, free schools and academies in the area will publish their arrangements on their own websites.

Lewisham’s arrangements for the academic year 2028/29 will be determined by a meeting of Mayor and Cabinet in January 2027 and, once determined, a copy will be published on this website.

The deadline for responses to the consultation is 4pm on Friday 13 November 2026 and the responses should be submitted to schooladmissions@lewisham.gov.uk, with the subject heading Admissions Consultation 2028/29.

Documents

Admissions policy 2026-27

Lewisham’s admissions arrangements for the academic year 2026/27 was determined by the Mayor and Cabinet on Wednesday, 29 January 2025.

The policy includes:

the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Deptford Park Primary School to 60
the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Elfrida Primary School to 60
the reduction of the Published Admissions Number at Launcelot Primary School to 30
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 limits for all community mainstream schools
reduction of the in-year Published Admissions Numbers at Rangefield Primary School, Forster Park Primary School, Lancelot Primary School

Documents

Faith, foundation, free schools and academies in the area will publish their arrangements on their own websites.

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

Rationale 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.

Lewisham’s admissions arrangements for the academic year 2027/28 was determined by the Mayor and Cabinet on Wednesday, 21st January 2026.

Any objection to Lewisham’s determined admissions arrangements for the academic year 2027/28 should be lodged with Office of the Schools Adjudicator. No later than 15 May 2026.

Documents

Admissions policy 2025-26

Lewisham’s admissions arrangements for the academic year 2025/26 was determined at a meeting of Mayor and Cabinet on Wednesday 26 January 2024.

The policy includes:

the admissions policy for all mainstream community nursery schools and classes, primary and secondary schools and 6th 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 limits for all community mainstream schools

Read a full copy of the determined arrangements below.

Faith, foundation and free schools and academies in the area will publish their arrangements on their own websites.

Documents

Admissions policy 2024-25

Lewisham’s admissions arrangements for the academic year 2024/25 was determined at a meeting of Mayor and Cabinet on Wednesday 1 February 2023. The policy includes:

the admissions policy for all mainstream community nursery schools and classes, primary and secondary schools and 6th 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 limits for all community mainstream schools

Read full copies of the determined arrangements below. Faith, foundation and free schools and academies in the area will publish their arrangements on their own websites.

Documents

Published on: 29/09/2026