Admissions Arrangments and Appeals

Watch our 'Welcome to Reception' video

Admissions Policy 2025 - 2026

Admissions Policy 2024-2025

Admissions into our RECEPTION class at New Valley Primary School are handled through the London Borough of Croydon.  PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE BOROUGH OF CROYDON, YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY THROUGH YOUR OWN LOCAL AUTHORITY (for example, if you live in Surrey, you will need to apply through the Surrey County Council admissions team).

FOR CROYDON RESIDENTS ONLY:  For further information on how to apply for a school place via Croydon Admissions please click the button below:

London Borough of Croydon - Reception Primary School Admissions

 

If you are applying and would like your application to be considered under medical priority, please complete the below form to supplement your application to your local authority.  We can only accept medical submissions for conditions that result in New Valley Primary being the only setting who can meet the needs of your child.  Please ensure you read the medical priority criteria before applying on this basis.

Medical Form

 

Admission into years 1-6 fall within the In-year School Admissions process (for children new to the area or without a school), and transfers.  In-year admissions are typically handled through your Local Authority.

New Valley Primary School follows the Croydon LA coordinated in-year admissions scheme.  If you live within a neighbouring borough, please follow the process operating within your local authority.  For Croydon residents only: for information on this process and to see how your application is handled, please click the link below.

London Borough of Croydon - In-Year Primary School Admissions

 

 

Reception, Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2 Appeals

Appeals Timetable in accordance with the School Admissions Appeal Code 2012 and The School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2021.

Primary admission appeals to be heard between 5 June 2023 and 21 July 2023.

a)  Deadline for Lodging Appeals: 16 May 2023. Appeal forms received within the deadline will be heard between 5 June 2023 and 21 July 2023, although some appeals may be heard following this date, as required.

b)  Appellants will receive at least 14 calendar days' notice of their appeal hearing date.

c)  Appellants must submit their additional evidence and the admission authority to submit their evidence at least 14 calendar days prior to the hearing date.

d)  Decision letters will be sent to appellants within 7 calendar days of the hearing, or, where multiple appeals for a school are heard on more than one day within 7 calendar days of the last hearing day for that school.

Notice date: 14 February 2023

The law states that infant classes must be limited to a maximum of 30 children which has an impact on how an appeal is considered. An appeal for a Reception place can only be upheld in very limited circumstances.

There are three circumstancees which an appeal panel can uphold an appeal for a school; if an appeal does not satisfy any of these conditions then it cannot be upheld.

These conditions are:

-  the child would have been offered a place if the admission arrangements had been properly implemented
-  the child would have been offered a place if the arrangements had not been contrary to mandatory provisions in the School Admissions Colde and the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, and/or
-  the decision to refuse admission was not one which a reasonable admission authority would have made in the circumstances of the case. Unreasonable in this sense means irrational - a decision which was 'perverse in light of the addmissions arrangements'.

All appellants must now appeal online to the Croydon Independent Appeals Service. No printed or pdf. copy forms will be made available for use by appellants, apart from in exceptional circumstances, where they have no means of appealing online.

For an appeal form and information please visit:

London Borough of Croydon - Appeals Forms

 

KEY STAGE 1  In Year Appeals

In-year appeals will be heard within 30 school days of receipt of their online appeal form.

In year admission appeals must be submitted online using the relevant appeal form available via the link above.

The following documents are available to download:

London Borough of Croydon - Appeals Form

Admission Appeals - Frequently Asked Questions

Admission Appeals - Parents and Cares guide

See the Applying for a School Place page for more information on school admissions.

Note: the information provided on your common application form about your school preferences and your order of preference is confidential but information about the ranked position of a school may be released to a school or academy admission authority or to another local authority. The common application form itself may be released for admission appeal purposes.

School admission appeals are heard by an independent panel. The Admission Authority will explain to the panel why a place could not be allocated for your son/daughter. You will need to state to the independent panel the reasons why your son/daughter should be given a place despite the fact that the school is up to its 30 place limit per class.

 

KEY STAGE 2  (Year 3) and onwards - In Year Appeals

If you have not been offered a place for your child at New Valley Primary School you have a right of appeal under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (as amended by the Education Act 2001).

If you wish to appeal against the decision not to offer your child a place at New Valley you must complete the School Admission Appeals - Year 3 onwards form: available on the Croydon website:

London Borough of Croydon Appeals Form