Admissions

Cherry Orchard Academy is a two-form entry primary academy for students between the ages of 4 – 11. The Academy will admit a maximum of 60 children into each year group between Reception and Year 6.

Reception Admissions

Entry into the Reception year must be done by taking part in the Coordinated Admissions Process conducted by Kent County Council’s online process and expressing Cherry Orchard Primary Academy as your first choice of preference. If our school receives more than 60 applications, then we will apply our oversubscription policy based on our admission arrangement. Please find our admissions arrangements below

In-Year Admission

We are currently full in all year groups. Thanks to the popularity of the school, we receive a very high number of In- Year Admission requests, hence running lengthy waiting lists in all the year groups. If you are looking for an In-Year transfer, please read the notes below carefully before joining our online waiting list:

  • This new online waiting list system came into effect on 09/11/2023. Any In-year requests that were sent to the office directly before this date were manually processed and added to our waiting list. Hence, you don’t have to join this online waiting list again. Please only join the online waiting list if you have never contacted us before regarding In-Year Admission.
  • Please note that the below steps are purely to join a waiting list, it’s not an admission process. You will only be contacted if a space becomes available and you become eligible under our admission criteria.
  • If you are yet to move to the area and are considering joining the waiting list, the earliest you may apply is 10 working days prior to your confirmed moving date.

Steps to join the online waiting list

  1. Download and fill in the Kent County Council (KCC) In Year Admission Form (IYAF) using the link below.
    https://www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/3522/in-year-application-form.pdf
  2. Join our online waiting list by creating an account using the link below.
    https://copa.applicaa.com/waitinglist
  3. Fill in the requested details and most importantly, upload the completed KCC IYAF from the previous step.
  4. Once you have joined the waiting list, we process the In Year Admission Form uploaded by you and send it to Kent County Council. The council will provide us with an accurate distance between the address on the form and our school to help us rank the waiting list. This process may take up to a week, so please only contact us after a week to find out about your child’s waiting list position.

If you have queries regarding any of the above, please contact the school office:office@cherryorchardprimary.org.uk or 01322 242011

Appeals

If you have not been offered a place, the law entitles you to appeal against that decision to an Independent Appeal Panel. This panel is completely independent of the school and the Local Authority. All appeals will be heard online, which has the advantage that your appeal can be heard from your home or place of work.

If you wish to appeal for a place in Reception, year 1 or year 2, please use this link to complete your appeal online.

If you wish to appeal for a place in years 3 – 6 please use this link to complete your appeal online

Please do NOT use ANY other appeal form or send your form to your local authority. It is suggested that you download the explanatory booklet about appeals which you should read before you complete the appeal form. Those applying for a place in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 are advised to read the section in the appeal’s booklet which refer to Reception, years 1 and 2.

Appeals Explanatory Booklet - Education Appeals

You should include any evidence or supporting material with your appeal form and you MUST give the grounds for your appeal at the time you lodge your appeal form. Your appeal form will not be accepted unless you state the grounds for your appeal. You may appeal for more than one school.

Please note that the online form will ask you to download two utility bills dated in the last THREE months. If you do not have access to a scanner, please take two photographs with a mobile phone and upload the photographic files.

Full details about the hearing will be sent to you with your invitation to the hearing.

If you wish to contact the clerk – email : clerk@educationappeals.com

Timetable for Appeals

Last day for lodging appeal forms for a place in RECEPTION to start in September 2024

4pm on Thursday 16 May 2024 to guarantee that your appeal will be heard in the first tranche of appeals. Appeals lodged later may not be heard until the second tranche which could be in September 2024. You MUST state the reasons for your appeal and supply any documentary evidence at this stage.

The stage 1 part of the hearing (with other parents present) will take place on

1 or 2 July 2024

Part 2, the individual private hearings will take place on

1 or 2 July 2024

Invitation letter giving details about your hearing will be sent by the Clerk to the Independent Appeal Panel

At least 10 school days before the stage 1 hearing.

Any additional supporting evidence

24 June 2024. You are advised that additional paperwork received on the day of the appeal hearing will not be taken into account. Please provide the Clerk with FIVE copies of any additional evidence. All such evidence to be submitted in A4 format and NOT bound, but may be stapled on the top left hand corner. Paperwork submitted with your appeal form does not need to include 5 copies. These should be sent to PO BOX 367, Cuffley, Herts, EN6 4XZ.

Letter from the Clerk informing you of the decision of the independent appeal panel

Due to the high number of appeals held at this time, this may not be sent until up to 2 weeks after the last hearing for the school.

Mid-Term Applications Appeals

Last day for lodging appeal forms following a refusal for a place an ‘in year’ or ‘mid-term’.

You must lodge the appeal form within 20 school days upon receipt of your letter of refusal. You MUST state the reasons for your appeal and supply documentary evidence at this stage. Appeals are held within 30 school days of receipt of the appeal form.