Secondary school places

Teenage boy in a classroomWhen your child approaches their final year of primary school, you will need to start thinking about which secondary school they will go to.

Finding a secondary school

A good place to start finding out about getting your child into secondary school is to read our booklet Admission to Secondary School in Kent 2012.  We publish this booklet every year for parents of Year 6 children, and it is distributed to parents through Kent primary schools. Please read it carefully, as it will tell you everything you need to know about the admissions process.

The booklet also provides information about Kent secondary schools, including details of open sessions when you and your child can visit schools. Many of our schools have brochures and websites, and you can find out more by contacting schools direct.Contact details are in the booklet.

Please read the frequently asked questions about the secondary transfer process.  If you have a question about secondary admissions that is not answered on these pages or in our booklet, please contact us.

Applying for your child's first secondary school place
Applications for children due to start secondary school in September 2012 begin on 6 September 2011 and the closing date is 31 October.

You can apply online at www.kent.gov.uk/ola or fill in a Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) available from Kent primary schools. All applicants who apply on time will be sent their secondary school offer on 1 March 2012 by first class post.  If you apply online and provide a valid email address you will be sent an email after 4pm on 1 March 2012 telling you which school your child has been offered.

The Kent test (eleven-plus)
In Kent we have grammar schools, so you can choose whether or not you would like your child to take the Kent test (also known as the eleven-plus)

Find out more about the Kent test

Applying for an In Year admission
If your child already attends a secondary school and you wish to apply for a school place outside the year of entry (for example, a year 8 or 9 place) please refer to our In Year admission page for information.

Cranbrook School
If you are Kent parent applying for a year 9 place at Cranbrook School you will need to complete Cranbrook’s day or boarding form depending on what type of place you wish to apply for.  If your child does not live in Kent you should make your application to your home local authority.

Contact us

Admissions and Transport Team
Room 2.24, Sessions House
County Hall
Maidstone ME14 1XQ

Telephone 01622 696565
Fax: 01622 696665
Envelope kent.admissions@
kent.gov.uk

For online admissions queries:
Envelope kentonlineadmissions@
kent.gov.uk
.