Academy Admissions
Welcome to the Harris Academy Admissions information page.
Open Mornings for Sept 2026 Admissions
We understand that as parents you want to get a feel for the school your child may go to and so we warmly invite prospective parents to go to the Open Mornings page on our website https://www.harrisprimaryeastdulwich.org.uk/169/parent-workshops-and-open-mornings
We have 60 places available in Reception each year. If there are more than 60 applications, places will be offered using the following criteria:
1) Looked After and Former Looked After Children
2) Children for whom evidence of a social or medical need which can ONLY be met at our Academy
3) Children with siblings at the Academy.
4) Children of staff members (only two places)
5) All remaining places will be distributed on the basis of proximity between home and school, with children who live closest to our permanent building on Lordship Lane being prioritised
How to apply
Applications for Reception places are made through the London Borough of Southwark’s coordinated admissions process. The applications window for children starting school in September 2026 closes on the 15th of January 2025 at 11.59pm. Please use the link below to apply for a place for your child.
Reception Applications
The Academy has an admission number of 60 in Reception for September 2026
Applications for places in Reception should be made on the home Local Authority’s Common Application Form. These are accessible on the LA’s website and should be submitted in accordance with the LA’s published deadlines for applications (normally early to mid-January before the academic year in which the child is eligible for entry).
| Reception Key Dates | |
|---|---|
| 1 September 2025 | Admission process starts |
| Wednesday 17th September Wednesday 24th September Wednesday 1st October | Open Morning Sessions - 10am-11am |
| Thursday 15th January 2026 | Closing date for submitting online applications |
| Thursday 16th April 2026 | Applicants who apply on time will receive their child's offer of a school place by email after 5pm. The email will provide information on what to do next. Applicants will also be able to view the outcome of their application during the evening at www.eadmissions.org.uk |
| Thursday 30th April 2026 | No action required if you are a Southwark resident and want to accept the school offered to your child. Should you wish to reject the offer of a school place allocated to your child, you must notify the school admissions team by email at: school.admissions@southwark,gov.uk and include your unique application reference number by this date. |
| Appeals June to July 2026 | Appeals hearings for Southwark community schools are held. |
| Until 31st August 2026 | Parents wishing to join the new Reception cohort must contact Southwark Council |
In-Year Applications
If you are looking for a place at Harris Primary Academy East Dulwich because you have recently moved into the area, or your child is at another primary school and you feel that a change of school would benefit their education and/or general well-being, you are entitled to apply for a school place.
If you wish to apply for a place at our Academy please come to the school office between 8:00-4:00pm to collect an in-year application form. Please note that there is no guarantee that a place will be available for your child. However, you do have the right to appeal if you are refused a place.
For parents/carers who wish to appeal
Parent(s) wishing to appeal against the Academy’s decision on admissions, for any year group, should complete an Appeal Form (see below) stating the reason for the appeal, based on the published Admissions Criteria.
Completed forms should be sent to the Clerk to the Appeal Panel at:
Harris Primary Academy East Dulwich, 173 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HA.
Completed appeal forms for Reception 2026 entry must be received by the Academy by the closing date 5pm on 20th May 2026.
All appeals will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals.
Appellants will be sent written notification of their appeal hearing at least 10 clear school days in advance of the hearing.
Appellants will be sent a copy of the school's case at least seven clear school days in advance of the appeal hearing.
If an appellant wishes to submit further evidence, which was not included with their initial appeal, they should ensure this is received at least seven school days (not counting the day of postage or the hearing) in advance of the appeal hearing.
The Academy will arrange for an Independent Appeals Panel to consider the Academy's reasons for refusal and your reasons for wanting to attend the Academy.
The Panel will consider the case put forward by you and the Academy. They must consider the admission arrangements for the Academy and the reasons why you want to attend that particular school. The Panel must exercise its discretion by balancing the weight of your argument (for wanting to attend) against the Academy’s reasons for refusal.
The decision of the Independent Appeals Panel is binding on the admissions authority and the parents.
Deferred/Delayed Entry
Deferring Entry Within the Same Academic Year - You have a legal right to defer your child's start date until later in the same school year, without losing the offered place, as long as they start by the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday.
Requesting a Delayed Entry to the Following Academic Year (For Summer-Born Children) - For children born between 1 April and 31 August (summer-born), you can request to delay their entry so they start Reception a full year later, in the September following their fifth birthday.
To make this request and for further guidance, it is recommended to contact the Southwark primary admissions Team https://services.southwark.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions/primary-admissions
If you have any questions regarding admissions, please contact our Admissions Officer.
Ms MJ Keleghar
Email: info@harrisprimaryeastdulwich.org.uk
Telephone: 02037724573
