In-Year Admissions

Thank you for your interest in transferring your child to Hamilton Academy.

Hamilton Academy is its own admissions authority and its scheme of in-year admissions is co-ordinated by the Admissions Team at Buckinghamshire Council (BC).

You will need to apply for In-Year admission if you wish to apply for a place at Hamilton Academy outside of the normal admissions round because;

• Your child is arriving from overseas
• You have moved to High Wycombe from another part of the country
• You are moving to a new address within High Wycombe
• Your child already attends a school in High Wycombe, but you wish to transfer your child to another local school
• If your child is being educated at home and you want them to attend a mainstream school instead

If you are moving your child to another school because your child is unhappy, we recommend that you talk to the school before deciding to change schools as this can be disruptive to your child’s education.

Parents wishing to apply for an in-year place at Hamilton Academy should complete the on-line form at the BC’s website:  https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/education/school-admissions/changing-school-in-year/

In-year applications are accepted by the Admissions Team at BC a maximum of six weeks in advance of the place being required.  This is because places cannot be reserved for children who are not ready to take up a place offered.

There is a timeline on the BC’s website for this which will be updated each year https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/change-schools-in-year/offers-key-dates-appeals/ 

Allocations are made according to the in-year oversubscription criteria in Hamilton’s Admissions Policy. https://www.hamiltonacademy.org.uk/docs/Admissions/Hamilton_Academy_-_Admissions_Policy_2024-25_DETERMINED.pdf 

For a Supplementary Form to accompany applications under criterion 4 of Hamilton’s Admissions Policy,  "Children with exceptional medical or social needs, supported by written evidence from a medical doctor, social worker, education welfare officer or other appropriate person" please contact the school office on 01494 522231.

The published admission number for each year group at Hamilton is 90 (Nursery is a separate admissions procedure and has a different admission number).  Between Reception and Year 2, the government has set a maximum class size of 30 children to 1 qualified teacher and extra children are not admitted under normal circumstances. 

If the relevant year group is fully subscribed an applicant’s details will be added to the school’s continuing interest list and ranked in order against the published admissions criteria. This continuing interest list is held by the Admissions Team at BC and is only ordered when a space becomes available in the required year group.

The initial offer of a school place will be sent to the parent by the BC Admissions Team. Once the parent has accepted the place, an admissions pack will be sent from the school. An induction meeting will be arranged for the parents of children offered places before the agreed start date.

If your child is allocated a place at Hamilton Academy the school will contact the applicant’s most recent school for information about the child.

Further information:

Hamilton Academy follows the Fair Access Protocol

Fair Access Protocol link https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/school-admissions-guides-policies-and-statistics/fair-access-protocol/ 

Information about the admission of children of Crown Servants
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/622b155ee90e070ed82339f5/Admission_of_children_of_crown_servants_-_explanatory_note.pdf 

Statutory right of appeal

If you are a parent and you have applied for a school place for your child and the admission authority has refused your application, you have the right to make an admission appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel.

If you have made an unsuccessful application for a place at Hamilton and wish to make an appeal, please write via email (office@hamiltonacademy.org.uk) to: The Chairman of Governors, stating that you wish to make an appeal.  After initial contact with the Chair of Governors, Hamilton’s appeals are administered by the legal team at Buckinghamshire Council.  Further details about appeals are at:

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/school-appeals/appeal-a-primary-school-decision/ 

Hamilton’s website – admissions page https://www.hamiltonacademy.org.uk/About-Us/Admissions/

Chart of National Curriculum Year groups