Academy Admissions

Welcome to the Harris Academy Admissions information page. Please look at our calendar page for details of our open mornings/afternoons for prospective Parents, Carers and Students. Our full policy, with details of our admissions criteria, can be downloaded from further down the page. Here is a brief summary of the application procedures for Nursery, Reception and in-year applications. 

Our school tours are open to all prospective parents and there is no need to book. We look forward to you joining us.

Applications for places in Reception should be made on the home London Borough of Merton's e-admissions portal. This is accessible on their website and should be submitted in accordance with the published deadlines for applications.

More detailed information about the admission process can be found on the e-admissions help guide.

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Our next school tours for Reception 26-27 intake:

 

9:30am on Thursday 8^th January 2026

If you would like to book a place on one of our open mornings, please email Ms Lee using the contact details below. 

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Academy Admissions Contact Details Ms Nicola Lee Telephone: 020 8679 3707 Email: info@harrisprimarymerton.org.uk Address: Harris Primary Academy Merton, Abbotts Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 1JW   Additional Resource Base Admissions Read more about us here If you wish to apply for a place for your child to attend our additional resource base for Autism please contact the Borough of Merton directly with your child's EHCP Case officer.

 

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Appeals

Parent(s) may wish to appeal against the Academy’s decision on admissions, for any year group, based on the published admissions criteria.

If you wish to appeal, you must complete the appeal form (see below) stating the reason for the appeal.  You can attach to your appeals form any relevant documents and or a letter with information and evidence that you feel supports your case.

All appeals must be made in writing to the Clerk to Governors at Harris Primary Academy Merton, Abbotts Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 1JW using the appeals form by Tuesday 20^th May 2025.  All appeals will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals. The National Offer day is Wednesday 16^th April)

The appeals will be heard, in private, by an Independent appeal Panel. The Clerk to the Appeal Panel will make an appointment within a reasonable time, Appeals may be made in English or the Parents’/Carers’ first language.

• Only one appeal per application is allowed.
• Appeals are conducted in person, and you may bring a friend.

The Appeal Hearing:

The Academy will arrange for an Independent Appeals Panel to consider the Academy's reasons for refusal and your reasons for wanting to attend the Academy.  

The Panel will consist of 3 people (2 will have education experience and one will be an independent person with no education experience).

The Panel will consider the case put forward by you and the Academy. They must consider the admission arrangements for the Academy and the reasons why you want to attend that particular school.  The Panel must exercise its discretion by balancing the weight of your argument (for wanting to attend) against the Academy’s reasons for refusal i.e. the prejudice that one more student would cause to the education of the students already offered and the Health and Safety of all the students already attending the Academy, also taking into account the Academy's published admission arrangements.  

The decision of the Independent Appeals Panel is binding on the admissions authority and the Parents.

Deferred/Delayed Entry

To defer a Reception place in the London Borough of Merton, you must first accept the offered place and then arrange the deferral with the school's head teacher, or if seeking a delayed start to the next academic year (for summer-born children), follow a specific application process with the Council. 

Option 1: Deferring Entry Within the Same Academic Year

You have a legal right to defer your child's start date until later in the same school year, without losing the offered place, as long as they start by the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday. 

1. Accept the place: You must first accept the offered school place by the deadline specified in your offer notification via the eAdmissions website.
2. Contact the Head Teacher: You must notify the head teacher of the allocated school in writing (email or letter) about your intention to defer entry. They can discuss the arrangements with you to ensure the deferral is in your child's best interest.
3. Confirm the start date: Agree on a start date within the current academic year. The school must hold the place for your child. 

Option 2: Requesting a Delayed Entry to the Following Academic Year (For Summer-Born Children)

For children born between 1 April and 31 August (summer-born), you can request to delay their entry so they start Reception a full year later, in the September following their fifth birthday. 

• This is not an automatic right; requests are considered on a case-by-case basis by the school's admission authority.
• A place cannot be held: If this request is approved, any place you may have already been offered for the current Reception year will be withdrawn. You will have to re-apply for a place in the following academic year's Reception intake as part of the normal application process.
• If the request is declined: If the request is refused and you still choose to defer, your child will likely have to enter Year 1 the following year as an in-year admission, potentially missing the Reception year completely. 

To make this request:

1. Submit an on-time application: Apply for a school place for your child's chronological year group by the national closing date. Click here for the request for delayed entry form.
2. Submit a formal request: At the same time you apply, send a written request for delayed entry to the Merton Council Admissions Team via email at admissions@merton.gov.uk 
3. Provide supporting evidence: Include all relevant reasons why starting a year later is in your child's best interest. This can include professional reports (medical, social, etc.).
4. Await the decision: Merton Council and the school's admission authority will consider the request and inform you of the outcome. There is no formal right of appeal if the request for delayed entry to the following academic year is denied. 

For further guidance, it is recommended to contact the Merton Admissions Team directly:

• Email: admissions@merton.gov.uk 
• Address:

School Admissions Team
Civic Centre
Morden
SM4 5DX