Admissions

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard 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 Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard 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@cherryorchard.latrust.org.uk or 01322 242011

Appeals

If you have not been offered a place following an in-year application, the law entitles you to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. This panel is completely independent of the school and the Local Authority. In accordance with the 2022 School Admission Appeals Code Appeals, the admission authority and appeal panels have elected for all admissions appeals to be held online.

If you wish to appeal, please use the links below to complete your appeal online.

  • Reception, Year 1 and 2 – Link
  • Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 – Link

Please do NOT use ANY other appeal form or send your form to your local authority. It is highly recommended that you download the explanatory booklet about appeals which you should read before you complete the appeal form.

Appeals Explanatory Booklet - Education Appeals

If your appeal is for years Reception, year 1 or year 2, you are strongly advised to read the section on Key Stage 1 appeals on page 18.

You should include any evidence or supporting material with your appeal form and you MUST state the grounds of your appeal at the time you lodge your appeal form. Your appeal form will not be accepted unless you give the grounds of 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 using a mobile phone and upload the photographic files.

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

Information about Primary Transfer appeals will be posted on this website before 28 February 2025.

Timetable for Appeals

Last day for lodging appeal forms

20 School days after the decision letter informing you that you had not been offered a place.

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 hearing.  This MAY be emailed.

All in year appeal will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being lodged.

Closing date for any additional supporting evidence

FIVE working days before your hearing. You are advised that additional paperwork received on the day of the appeal hearing will not be taken into account. Please email to clerk@educationappeals.com

Please note that slightly different rules will apply for any primary transfer appeals into Reception.

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

Due to the high number of appeals, an email is sent a few working days after your hearing with the decision of the panel.  This is followed up around 10 working days later with a letter outlining the panels reasons.