Secondary School Transfer

The process across the year and the schools our children went on to attend

Download the presentation here

 SEPTEMBER - Parents usually start to think about the Secondary School process when their children are in Year 5.  Each September/October, secondary schools in Lambeth and in neighbouring boroughs, advertise open days and evenings when you can visit their schools.  It is a good idea to start to look at the schools you are interested in early, so you don't have to visit so many when your child moves up to Year 6.

 In early September when your child is in Year 6, you will be invited to an information meeting at Hitherfield to discuss the application process.  

 If you are interested in your child attending a school in Wandsworth, your child will be required to sit the Year 6 test in this month, usually in the third week of September. You will need to register your child for this via an online application on the Wandsworth Admissions website.  Registration opens in July/August and closes in early September.  The Wandsworth Test consists of verbal and non-verbal reasoning.  Practice materials can be purchased through GL Assessment. There are also some free materials available on their website.

https://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/free-materials/

 OCTOBER - Parents submit an online application for the schools they would like for their child, to the (home) borough in which they live.  This is called a  CAF (Common Application Form), The deadline is usually October 31st.  If you do not have access to email or the internet at home or need support in completing your application, you can make an appointment to see a customer advisor at the Lambeth Civic Centre in Brixton. 

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions-and-appeals/secondary-school-admissions

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/customer-centres/brixton-customer-centre-lambeth-civic-centre
 

You will have a choice of up to 6 schools to list on your CAF and can choose from any borough. Only list the schools you would be happy to send your child to and do not just "fill up the form".  Be mindful, if you list only 1 or 2 schools and do not meet the admissions criteria, you run the risk of being offered an allocated school. This could be a school anywhere within your home borough. Look at the admissions criteria for each school you are interested in very carefully. For most parents, distance (how far you live from the school) and siblings (if there is already a brother or sister attending)  will be the main criteria for which your child will be considered.   In Lambeth, you are required to submit proof of address  and date of birth documents  to support your application.  Details of what is accepted can be found on the Lambeth website.

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions-appeals/proof-address-date-birth-documents-school-admission-applications

 If you miss the October 31st Deadline, you must submit a CAF application as soon as possible to your home borough. Please be mindful late applications are considered after all of the on time applications have been processed.  This will affect what school your child is eventually offered. 

Many schools also require you to submit a supplementary  form (SIF).  The deadline for these in Lambeth is typically 31st October, but it can vary so please check with each school you are considering. If a school requires a SIF, the forms are available to download from their websites.  It must be completed and handed into each individual school that requires one. A few schools in Lambeth allow you to submit SIF's electronically.  These include Dunraven, Norwood and La Retraite.   Check with individual schools if there is a specific SIF to apply for a scholarship or bursary. E.g. in Lambeth, Norwood offers visual and performing Arts bursaries. In Southwark, Kingsdale offers Music and Sports’ scholarships.

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions-and-appeals/secondary-school-admissions/apply-secondary-school-place-2023-24/supplementary-information-forms-sifs

NOVEMBER - 4 Schools in Lambeth require your child to sit a test in this month.  These are  Dunraven, The Norwood School,  Lilian Baylis and Platanos College.  If you would like your child to be considered for any of these schools, this means they will be required to sit a test at each school.  For Dunraven and Norwood, test dates usually fall in the middle of November, with Dunraven's test usually on Saturday mid November and Norwoods' the following Monday.  The test consists of verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and Maths.  Practice materials can be purchased through GL Assessment.  There are also some free materials available to download on their website.

https://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/free-materials/

DECEMBER - If you are interested in one of the Harris schools your child will be asked to sit the Harris Test.  This applies to Harris Crystal Palace & South Norwood. The test date is usually in early December. The Harris Test consists of non verbal reasoning.

JANUARY - if you are considering a scholarship or bursary for a private school, such as Dulwich College in Southwark, Whitgift schools in Croydon, Streatham and Clapham High in Lambeth, relevant aptitude dates usually fall in this month.

MARCH - National Offers Day. This is usually March 1st and you will find out which school your child has been offered. Your child will be offered 1 school.  

Parents usually have 2 weeks to inform schools (if an academy) or School Admissions if they accept their child's offer. 

If you are unhappy with your offer you can appeal. Appeals forms (usually obtained through  individual schools) usually have to be submitted to Lambeth for community or voluntary controlled schools by the end of March.  Academies such as Dunraven control their own appeals and should be contacted directly.

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions-appeals/school-admission-appeal-guidance-2023/timetables-education-admission-appeals

APRIL-JULY- Appeal hearings are heard. 

Further rounds of offers are made to parents once acceptances or rejections from March 1st have been received. Parents should contact whoever holds the waiting list of their first choice preference.

Our 2025/26 Year 6 Cohort went to the following Secondary Schools: