Applying to Reception

Are you looking for a Reception place in September 2026?

We are delighted that you are considering our academy for your child's Reception year. We offer up to 90 places each year in our Reception classes and you will need to apply using your local authority's application process. 

For children living in Bexley, families must apply via the eAdmissions service. Further information can be found on the London Borough of Bexley's website.

For children living outside Bexley, whose family wants them to attend this school their application must be made through their home borough naming this school as a preference on their application.

Remember, parents/carers must apply for a reception place in this school, even if your child attends Harris Garrard Academy nursery or has a brother or sister attending this school.

Our full Admissions Policies can be downloaded from the bottom of this page. If you have any queries please email info@harrisgarrard.org.uk. Thank you.

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Open Mornings and school tours

Why not come and see our academy in action at one of our open events and school tours. Please see our Open Events page for details of opportunities to visit our school and see for yourself what makes Harris Garrard Academy such an exciting place to learn. We look forward to welcoming you.

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Reception admission for September 2026

The Academy has an admission number of 60 for our Reception in September 2026. For all children born from 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 inclusive, their parents/carers will need to apply for a reception class place in an infant or primary school for September 2026 entry. 

The national closing date for on time reception applications is 15 January 2026. The national offer date for on time reception applicants is 16 April 2026.

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Reception admissions - key dates

The Academy works to the common admissions timetable agreed by Bexley Council. The key dates are:

• 16th January 2026 - Deadline for Reception applications.
• 16th April 2026 - Local Authority informs parents/carers of allocated school (National Offer Day). If you apply online, you will receive the outcome by email on the evening of 16 April. Offers to paper applicants will be made by letter, posted on national offer day by first class mail.
• 2nd May 2026 - Last date for accepting and declining offers of places.
• 15th May 2026 - Deadline for submitting an appeal form for a Reception place.
• June to July 2026 - Appeals will be heard up to 40 school days after the deadline.
• 1st September 2026 - Waiting list closed and replaced by casual admissions waiting lists. Parents/carers will need to re-apply as casual admission, if still waiting.

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Appeals process

Parent(s) wishing to appeal against the academy’s decision should complete an appeal form stating the reason for the appeal based on the published admissions criteria. The appeal form and guidance notes for appeals can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

Completed forms should be sent to: The Clerk to the Governors, Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Erith, Kent, DA18 4DW. For September 2026 intake the deadline for appeals for reception and Year 6 are set out in the table above. Appeals for ‘in-year admissions’ will be reviewed throughout the year.

The appeals will be heard in private by an Independent Appeal Panel. Appeals may be made in English or the parents’/carers’ first language. Only one appeal per application is allowed. Appeals are conducted in person, and you may bring a friend.

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The appeal hearing

The Independent Appeals Panel will then consider the Academy's reasons for refusal and your reasons for wanting to attend the Academy.  The panel will consist of three people (two will have education experience and one will be an independent person with no education experience).

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 i.e. the prejudice that one more student would cause to the education of the students already offered and the Health and Safety of all the students already attending the Academy, also taking into account the Academy's published admission arrangements.  

The decision of the Independent Appeals Panel is binding on the admissions authority and the parents.

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Deferred entry and part-time attendance in Reception year

All children are entitled to a full-time place in Reception year in the September following their fourth birthday. Children do not, however, reach compulsory school age (CSA) until one of three prescribed dates following their fifth birthday as follows:

Born on or between:	Prescribed date the child reaches CSA (compulsory school age)
1st September - 31st December	31st December
1st January - 31st March	31st March
1st April - 31st August	31st August

Where parents want to defer their child's entry and/or choose for them to attend school parttime, they should apply for a place in the normal way and, once they have accepted the offer of a place, notify the Academy of their decision, preferably in writing. There is no need to give reasons.

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In-year admissions to primary

Harris Garrard Academy operates an extensive waiting list for in-year admissions from Reception to Year 6. If you wish to apply for an in-year admission please see our In-Year Admissions page, which has full details of what to do and how to get help.

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If you have any queries...

We want to help as much as we can, so if you have any queries please contact our admissions team.

Telephone: 020 8320 4800

Email: admissions@harrisgarrard.org.uk

Address: Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Kent DA18 4DW