Primary schools

Children start primary school in the school year in which they reach the age of five.

Children officially start their primary school education when they enter a reception year class. All children born between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008 will start school in September 2012. However, parents who are offered a place in the reception year can ask for their child’s entry to the school to be deferred until later in the school year. Where a place is deferred it cannot be given to another child, but the child must enter school by the beginning of the school term following their fifth birthday and within the school year for which the offer was made.

Please note that attendance at a nursery class does not guarantee the offer of a place in Reception Class.

Applying online

You can search for a school in Tower Hamlets and across London online. From September 1, 2011 you can apply online. If you make an online application you should not complete a paper application form.

The closing date for receiving applications is January 15, 2012.

The Starting School in Tower Hamlets booklet

Information on how to apply for a reception school place can be found in the Starting School in Tower Hamlets booklet.

The booklet explains:

how to apply for a school place
about the different types of primary schools available
how schools make decisions about applications for places
how parents are notified about the outcome of their applications
what parents can do if they are not given a school place at their preferred school.

Download the Starting School in Tower Hamlets Booklet (PDF, 2MB)

The brochure will also be available from Tower Hamlets primary schools or by contacting the council's Pupil Admissions Team on 020 7364 5006.

Primary School Appeals

If you have not been offered a place at a school of your preference you are entitled to appeal against that decision to an Independant Appeal Panel. This panel is completely independant of the local authority and all schools in Tower Hamlets. The appeals are usually held at a hotel in Limehouse. If you wish to appeal you can download a form here or telephone pupil admissions. Please include any evidence or supporting material with your appeal form and you MUST give the grounds for your appeal at the time the appeal is lodged. You may appeal for more than one school.

Need a school place today?

If your child is of nursery, primary or secondary school age now and does not have a school place, please contact the council's Pupil Admissions Team on 020 7364 5006 or visit our In-year admissions page.

How to contact us

Pupil Admissions Team
Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG

Tel: 020 7364 5006
Email: school.admissions@towerhamlets.gov.uk.