Important information about the application process
Havering uses a coordinated admissions system when processing in-year applications.
This system simplifies the process for parents, allowing you to list the schools you want to apply for on a single online form, ranking them in your preferred order.
This is important because we will only offer one school place per child.
Whenever possible, this will be at the highest-ranked school on your application that has places available.
How schools make decisions
Each school you've listed on your application has its own admissions authority which decides whether to offer your child a place.
If a school receives more applications than available places (meaning it's oversubscribed), the admissions authority will use its published admissions criteria to decide who gets an offer.
We won't tell schools how you've ranked them or which other schools you've applied to.
However, if you appeal for a place, this information will be shared with the admissions authority at the appeal stage.
Why your ranking matters
It's crucial that you rank schools in your true order of preference.
If we can offer your child a place at two or more of the schools you've listed, we will only offer the one you ranked highest from those options.
All lower preference offers will be released, allowing those places to be offered to other children who need a school place.
If we can't offer a preferred school
If you live in Havering and we're unable to offer your child a place at one of your preferred schools, we will allocate them a place at the nearest school to your home address with a vacancy.
If you live outside Havering and we can't offer your child a school you have applied for, you'll need to contact your home borough or council for assistance.
Smooth transitions
To help make the transition as smooth as possible, we ask that you provide information about your child's previous school on your application.
This allows the school we offer to contact them directly and get all the necessary information as quickly as possible, ensuring a seamless start for your child.
Key application dates
Submitted applications will be processed as per the applications process dates table document.
The last date to apply for a school place for the 2025/26 academic year is 6 July 2026.
These dates are subject to change without prior notification.