Applying for a secondary school place

To apply for a secondary school place you will need to:

• apply through Medway Council if you live in Medway
• apply through your own local authority if you live outside of Medway
• use the child’s main address
• complete an application for each child if you’re applying for more than one such as twins. They will not count as a sibling link for a place

When applying you can:

• name both Medway and non-Medway schools on your application
• apply for up to 6 different schools in order of preference (not including private, independent or special schools)
• choose to apply for less than 6 schools. Naming just 1 school does not improve your chances of being offered a place at that school

When applying remember we still cannot guarantee or give a child a priority place:

• if you name a school multiple times. It will only be considered as one of your preferences
• if you have added your child’s name to a school’s expression of interest list
• based on your childcare arrangements

How to apply for a secondary school

You can apply for a school place using the Parent Portal.

Create a Parent Portal account

Log into your Parent Portal account

When applying you will need to:

• complete a supplementary information form (SIF) alongside your application if you are applying for a denominational (faith) school. You can get these forms from the school
• provide professional evidence if you or your child has a health, medical or special access need as soon as you have submitted your application 

Leigh Academy Rainham

Leigh Academy Rainham is due to open in September 2021 for Year 7. This is separate to the main secondary transfer process. If you apply for Leigh Academy Rainham, we also recommend that you submit an application for additional secondary schools through the Parent Portal above.

Leigh Academy Rainham application form

Applications for children with an EHC plan or statement of special educational needs

If your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan or statement of special educational needs, you do not apply through this mainstream process.

Apply for a school place for a child with an EHC plan

Applying if you do not have access to a computer at home

You can use computers at our community hubs or libraries to complete your online application.

If you cannot apply online, you can get a paper application from Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR. You will not get a receipt of paper applications.

When you apply for a secondary school online you will:

• get email confirmation when you submit your application
• be able to check or change your application until the closing date and resubmit after changes are made
• be emailed your school offer on offer day

Late applications

If you apply for a school place after the closing date, your application will only be considered if you can provide a good reason, for example:

• serious illness
• bereavement
• late move to the Medway area

If you miss the closing date you can still submit an application up to 5pm on 4 December 2020 with a letter explaining why you missed the closing date.

We'll decide if late applications received by 4 December 2020 can be accepted.

Any applications not accepted as on-time or received after 4 December 2020 will be held pending until we process late applications from 19 April 2021.