A CARE FOUNDATION TRUST SCHOOL
 

Admissions

Pupils are admitted to school in accordance with our school’s admissions policy. 

Parents can apply online at www.kent.gov.uk/ola from Tuesday 5th November 2024 until the closing date on Wednesday 15th January 2025. Parents who do not have access to the internet can request an application form from the school. The Form RCAF (Reception Common Admissions Form) should be completed and returned to the school or to the LEA Admissions Team by the closing date in January.

Only one application must be submitted per child, either online or paper but not both. For older children moving to the school, applications will need to be made through the child’s home local authority. The Kent Form, IYCAF, for children living in Kent is available from the school office or from kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk and should be returned to the school.

Places will be allocated according to the published criteria:

  • Parental wishes
  • Current family association (an elder brother or sister in the school at the time of entry)
  • Health reasons (for which a medical certificate may be needed), parental health is not a criterion
  • Geographical proximity of children’s homes to the school.

It is advised that prospective parents wishing a place for their child at Mersham Primary may want to put the school as their first choice preference.

It is our policy to admit all of the children in the Autumn term of the academic year in which they reach the age of five years. Children will start on a staggered basis, dependent on their date of birth and will all be in school full-time within the first three weeks.

Parents wishing to defer entry to the Spring Term 3 should apply in writing to the Headteacher.

If your child is due to start Primary school in September 2025, you can appeal if you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer Day (Wednesday, 16 April 2025 after 4pm). You needed to submit your appeal before Tuesday 20th May 2025. 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.

Admissions Policy


KCC School Admissions Website