Admissions Information

Admission to Primary / Junior Schools 2024

At this time of year, we are working hard to advise parents on how to apply to schools for September 2024 entry.

Applications are open between Friday 4 November 2023 – Monday 16 January 2024 and can be made online at www.kent.gov.uk/ola. If parents are unable to access the online site, an alternative format can be requested by emailing kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk.

We would like to thank you for your assistance in this matter and please contact the school office, should you require any further information.

Entry to Reception Year – September 2024

You can apply for up to three schools, putting them in order of preference.  It is in your best interest to list three schools.  Naming only one school does not guarantee your child a place at that school or give your child priority for a place over another child, neither does naming a school more than once.

For advice please call Primary Admissions at KCC on 03000 412121 or you can email them on primaryadmissions@kent.gov.uk

In September 2024 the Pupil Admission Number (PAN) for Pembury Primary will be 60.

KCC oversubscription criteria for community and voluntary controlled infant, junior and primary schools is:

• Children in Local Authority Care
• Attendance at a linked school (this does not apply to Pembury Primary)
• Current family association (siblings)
• Health and special access reasons
• Nearness of children’s home to school.

In the event of any of the above criteria being oversubscribed, priority will be given based on distance as described above with those closest being given higher priority.  In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decided which child should be given the place.

If siblings from multiple births (twins, triplets etc.) apply for a school and the school would reach its published admission number (PAN) after admitting one or more, but before admitting all of those siblings, the LA will offer a place to each of the siblings, even if doing so takes the school above its PAN. If the admissions are to Year R, and so result in a breach of infant class size legislation, the additional pupil(s) will be treated as ‘excepted’ for the time they are in an infant class or until the numbers fall back to the current infant class size limit, as defined in the School Admissions Code.

A waiting list will be held for at least the first term of the academic year in oversubscription criteria order.

Primary (Kent information)

If your child is due to start primary school in September 2024 you will be offered a place on 16 April 2024.

You will need to accept or refuse the offer directly with the school by Tuesday 30 April 2024. Read our guide to accepting or refusing your place (PDF, 138.2 KB) to find out more.

Your child’s school will make contact with you to make arrangements for them to start in September. Schools may offer your child a part-time induction plan, but must offer full time education from the start of term if this is your preference. While parents are encouraged to start their child full-time as quickly as possible, you should discuss with your offered school what accommodations can be made if you prefer for your child to start part-time.

Arrangements for starting school

For the first three weeks of the autumn term, children attend for the morning only, and in the third of these weeks the children stay to lunch.  Parents are provided with further details at the induction afternoon held in the July before the children start school.

Appeals

If your child is due to start Primary school in September 2024, you can appeal if you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer Day (Tuesday, 16 April 2024). You needed to submit your appeal before Tuesday 14 May 2024 for it to be considered by Tuesday 16^th July 2024. Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 school days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education. 

For late applications, appeals should be heard within 40 school days from the deadline for lodging appeals where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education

In Year Admissions

If you are interested in a place at our school in one of our current academic years please do phone the admissions secretary to enquire if there is space and to make an appointment to tour the school.  If you are interested in the place available or if you wish to join a waiting list for that year group you will be asked to complete an IYCAF (In Year Casual Admission Form – the form at the bottom of the page).  Should there be a space in the year group you are interested in and accept the place offered our admissions secretary will assist you with the paperwork needed and ensure that a smooth transition is obtained.

Where there is no space available for your child you will be asked if you would like to join a waiting list for that year group.  If a place becomes available, and you are the next eligible person on the list, we will make contact with you.

Kent County Council, our Local Authority, is the school’s Admission Authority and parents are always advised to contact them to find out about the admission arrangements for our school.  They can be contacted on 03000 412121.

Requests for Reception Admission outside the normal age group

Requests for admission to Year R outside of the normal age group should be made to the Headteacher as early as possible in the admissions round associated with that child’s date of birth.  This will allow the school and admissions authority sufficient time to make a decision before the closing date.

Parents are not expected to provide evidence to support their request to defer their application, however where provided it must be specific to the child in question.  This might include medical or Educational Psychologist reports.  There is no legal requirement for this medical or educational evidence to be secured from an appropriate professional, however, failure to provide this may impede a school’s ability to agree to deferral.

Parents are required to complete an application for the normal point of entry at the same time, in case there request is declined.  This application can be cancelled if the school agrees to accept a deferred application for entry into Year R the following year. Deferred applications must be made via paper RCAF to the LA, written confirmation from each named school.