Schools and academies in Hackney are very popular and not all applicants can be offered a place. You can list up to six schools. Follow the advice below and think carefully about which schools to list on your application.
- View your nearest schools on a map
Visit schools
You should visit schools to get an idea of what they offer. Every school has an open event. If you cannot visit schools you can get more information from their websites which are listed in our schools directory
Avoid common assumptions
Don't make assumptions about how school admissions work.
- Find out more about common assumptions and how to avoid them
Are your preferences realistic?
Consider how likely it is that your child will be offered a place at your preferred schools. Read the admissions arrangements for each of your preferred schools to find out which criteria apply to your child.
- Find out more about common priority criteria
The schools directory includes the admission criteria for all Hackney schools. For schools outside Hackney you should visit their website.
If you are unsure whether you will qualify for a place you can call the admissions team for impartial advice on 020 8820 7000 (option 3).
Decide the order of your school preferences
Each school you list is given equal consideration regardless of where you rank it in your preferences. Therefore you should list the school you want the most as your first preference. Your second preference should be the school you prefer if you don’t get your first preference, and so on down your list of schools.
Schools cannot give priority to families who list them as first preference because they are not told what preference you list them. Listing a school as your first preference does not increase your chance of being offered a place.
This means that you can list schools you prefer higher in your preferences (even if your chance of getting a place is small) and still have an equal chance at getting a place at lower preference schools where you are more likely to qualify for a place.
- Read more information about how the order of your preferences is used to decide the school your child is offered
If you are unsure how you should list your preferences contact the admissions team for advice.
Do you live close enough?
Many schools use home-to-school distance as part of their admission criteria.
- Find out more about home to school distance
How will your child travel to school?
Hackney has a great network of buses and rail links making it easy to get to any of our local schools. Children of secondary school age are generally expected to travel to school independently using public transport. However, a long journey to school on public transport may not be best for your child.
Travel is free on Transport for London (TfL) buses. Some children may be eligible for help with the cost of tube and/or train journeys.
- Read the school transport policy for further information
Research school performance and inspection outcomes
All schools in Hackney are inspected regularly by Ofsted. The latest Ofsted reports are included in the schools directory. Headteachers are happy to talk about any part of the Ofsted report. Information about an individual school’s performance results can be viewed on the Department for Education (DfE) website
Talk to your child and others
Ask your child what school they want to attend. Seek advice from teachers, other parents and the school admissions team. The right school for your friend’s child may not be right for your child.
Don’t judge a school solely on what others say – visit the school and make up your own mind.
Schools outside Hackney
Sometimes your nearest school may be in a neighbouring borough. You can apply for a place at secondary schools anywhere in England by listing them as preferences on the online application form. You should contact the relevant school admissions team in the area where the school is located.
Details for neighbouring London boroughs:
- Haringey, 020 8489 1000
- Islington, 020 7527 5515
- Newham, 020 8430 2000
- Tower Hamlets, 020 7364 5006
- Waltham Forest, 020 8496 3000