Admissions
Welcome to The Lenham School Admissions Page.
As parents/carers this is one of the most important decisions you will make as a family, we know that it can also be a very stressful process for many of you. We hope that this page will help answer some of the questions you may have and simplify the process.
We are a community that is always striving to do the best for our families and we have reached a point in our history where we have a very clear mission to take this to a new level:
- We want to empower our learners by giving them the knowledge and confidence to thrive in an environment of ACADEMIA.
- We want to create as many OPPORTUNITIES as possible for members of our community.
- We want our learners to feel that this is more than a school. The Lenham School is a place where you feel a sense of BELONGING, as though school is your home from home.
Please do explore the sections below. We would also encourage you to follow our official Facebook page to learn more about what is happening in school. We are looking forward to welcoming you to our wonderful community.
Click here to view our Admissions Policy - Including our oversubscription criteria.
Admissions Process Timeline
The Lenham School has a published admission number (PAN) of 150 students, to be admitted into Year 7 each year. Applications for places will be made in accordance with Kent local authority’s coordinated admission arrangements and will be made on the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF), provided and administered by the Kent Local Authority.
Click here to view the full KCC Determined Co-ordinated Scheme for Secondary Admissions 2026/27.
Click here to view our Admissions Policy - Including our oversubscription criteria.
| National Closing date for applicaiton forms |
Friday, 31 October 2025 |
| National Offer Day |
Monday, 2 March 2026 |
| Welcome letters are sent to the families of our New Year 7 intake |
Wednesday, 4 March 2026 |
| Deadline by which to accept/decline the place that has been offerred by KCC |
Monday, 16 March 2026 |
| Deadline for lodging appeals |
TBC |
|
Reallocation Offer Day - KCC may issue places, if other families have declined their place at the school. |
Thursday, 23 April 2026 |
In Year Admissions
If you live in Kent and wish to apply for a place at The Lenham School (with the exception of Year 6 children applying through the SCAF system) you will need to complete an In Year Admission Form (IYAF).
If we have available space within the required Year Group and Teaching Sets you will be invited to attend a meeting with a member of staff at which any questions and concerns can be addressed. Following that meeting you will receive written confirmation of whether a place is being offered.
For further details of the Admissions process, please refer to Section 2 of KCC’s Determined Co-ordinated Scheme for Secondary Admissions.
The school will notify applicants of the outcome of their application in writing within 15 school days detailing any reason for refusal and information about the right to appeal.
Appeals
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY
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 panels have elected for all admissions appeals to be held online.
If you wish to appeal, 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 highly recommended that you download the explanatory booklet about appeals which you should read before you complete the appeal form. Booklet Link
You should include any evidence or supporting material with your appeal form (photos of your child will not be accepted). 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, but a separate form must be completed for each school you wish to appeal a place at. If you are appealing for more than one child, a separate form must be completed for each child.
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 Secondary Transfer appeals will be posted on this website before 28 February 2026.
The timetable for ‘in-year’ appeals is as follows: -
|
The timetable for ‘in-year’ 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 appeals will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being lodged. |
|
Closing date for any additional supporting evidence |
FIVE school days before your hearing – by 4pm latest. You are advised that additional paperwork received on the day of the appeal hearing will not be taken into account. Please email files to clerk@educationappeals.com |
|
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 15 school days later with a letter outlining the panels’ reasons. |
|
The timetable for 6th form appeals |
|
|
Last day for lodging appeal forms |
31 August 2025. For 6th form appeals only, the appeal form can be completed by a student or parent. Appeal form can be downloaded on this link |
|
Invitation letter giving details about your hearing will be sent by the Clerk to the Independent Appeal Panel |
In order to facilitate a hearing as soon as possible, an email will be sent at very short notice. However, if a student or parent wishes to have 10 school days notice, this needs to be indicated on the appeal form. |
|
Date(s) of hearings |
Late August/September 2025. |
Transition from Year 6 - Year 7
We are delighted to welcome you to our school and look forward to seeing you during the upcoming events we will be holding to support your transition to secondary school.
We know that for most of you changing schools can be very unsettling and you will all have some anticipation and worry; this is only natural. With this in mind we have designed a dedicated transition programme full of activities for you in the coming months to help you get to know the school and meet your future class groups. Further information will be sent out to your parent/carer in the coming weeks/months giving more information on our Welcome Evening, Virtual Tutor Group sessions, Primary School visits, and our fun and exciting Transition Week!
Already your Parent/Carer has been given a booklet that you should read with them, this includes all the information you need to know about our school, during your transition week you will also be provided with a Student Booklet with lots of information, advice and top tips.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you or your family have any concerns (admissions@thelenham.viat.org.uk)
Please do explore our website for information on our Uniform, Termly Newsletter, Term Dates, Travel, School meals, Safeguarding, Attendance.
We look forward to meeting you all.
The Transition Team
