School admissions

Admission to Nursery 2024

Please read the Ready for Nursery in Tower Hamlets booklet for useful information on the admission process.

When do children start nursery?

Children will usually start nursery in the September following their third birthday. It is possible for eligible children to access a funded nursery place from the beginning of the term after their third birthday.

Are part-time or full-time places available? 

Both part-time (15 hours per week) and full-time (30 hours per week) places are available at Tower Hamlets nurseries.

When can children start nursery?

If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 and you wish to apply for a nursery place for September 2024, you must complete an online application by 16 February 2024 through the E-admissions website.

Find out more about nursery admissions

Admission to Reception (primary school) 2024

Please read the Starting Primary School in Tower Hamlets booklet for useful information on the admission process.

Pupils usually start primary school in the September following their fourth birthday. If your child was born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 this will be from September 2024.

You must complete an online application by 15 January 2024 through the E-admissions website.

You must make an online application for a reception place, even if your child is already attending the school's nursery.

Find out more about primary school (reception) admission

Admission to Year 7 (secondary school) 2024

Please read the Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets booklet for useful information on the admission process.

If you live in Tower Hamlets and your child is in Year 6 (born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013) you will need to make an online application via the E-admissions website for them to transfer to secondary school in September 2024.

Closing date for making applications is 31 October 2023.

Find out more about secondary school admissions

In-year admissions

Please read the In-Year Admissions guidance for useful information on the admission process.

In-year admissions take place outside the normal admission period – for example, children who have recently moved to the area and do not have a school place.

Applications for in-year transfers and admissions must be made through the Tower Hamlets Parent Portal.

School history form

Please ensure the School History Form Primary or School History Form Secondary has been completed by your child’s current or most recent school and is emailed to school.admissions@towerhamlets.gov.uk to support your application. Please do not upload onto the Tower Hamlets Portal.

We are only able to consider an application as fully completed when it includes the SHF. If we do not receive the SHF this may delay the processing of your in year transfer application. 

If your child is new to the UK you do not need to submit the SHF.

Priority admission under medical/social grounds

If you are requesting priority admission under medical/social grounds, please email relevant supporting information to school.admissions@towerhamlets.gov.uk.  Please do not upload onto the Tower Hamlets Portal.

Supporting evidence must come from a professional (such as a hospital consultant or social worker). It must explain the reasons why the school in question is the most suitable and the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend another school.

This advice also applies if you are facing extreme difficulties that are affect your child’s attendance at their current school and want your transfer to be considered immediately.

If you need any help, please read our Step by step guide to the parent portal

Please also read the Ready for Nursery in Tower Hamlets, Starting Primary School in Tower Hamlets and Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets booklet's for useful information on the admission process. In-year admissions take place outside the normal admission period – for example, children who have recently moved to the area and do not have a school place.

Find out about in-year admissions

Supplementary information forms

Some schools require a completed supplementary form in addition to the online application form. You must complete and return both forms for your application to be considered. Supplementary forms must be returned to the appropriate school. If you have made an online application to any of the schools listed below, please contact them for a supplementary form.

Secondary schools

  • Bishop Challoner School
  • Canary Wharf College Crossharbour
  • Stepney All Saints Cof E School 

Primary schools

  • Canary Wharf College Schools
  • Christ Church Church of England
  • English Martyrs Roman Catholic
  • Our Lady and St Joseph Roman Catholic
  • St Agnes Roman Catholic
  • St Anne's & Guardian Angels Roman Catholic
  • St Edmund’s Roman Catholic
  • St Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic
  • St John’s Church of England
  • St Luke’s Church of England
  • St Mary and St Michael Roman Catholic
  • St Matthias Church of England
  • St Paul's (Whitechapel) Church of England
  • St Paul’s with St Luke’s Church of England
  • St Peter’s London Docks Church of England
  • St Saviour’s Church of England
  • Stepney Greencoat Church of England

Key areas and contact numbers

These services can be contacted on the following telephone number
AreaPhone number

Nursery Admissions

Primary Admissions

Secondary Transfer Admissions

In-year Admissions

Travel Assistance

Elective Home Education

School Exclusions

020 7364 5006

*option 1

 

The Admissions Service is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm to answer your queries over the phone or via email.

Please note that admissions staff are extremely busy at the moment. As a result there may be a slight delay in the time it takes to respond to your queries.

For general enquiries, please email school.admissions@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Check this webpage on a regular basis for any changes to the current arrangements.

Further information