Academy Admissions
We welcome applicants of all academic abilities and backgrounds. In this section of our website you will find details of our admissions process.
Our full policy, with details of our admissions criteria, can be downloaded from the bottom of the page.
Our admissions officers are:
- Year 7 admissions: Gavin Kensit G.Kensit@harrislowewillesden.org.uk
- In-year admissions: Jackie Francis J.Francis@harrislowewillesden.org.uk
How to apply
Due to being consistently over-subscribed, we have increased the number of places available in Year 7 to 210. Applications are made through the London Borough of Brent’s secondary school admissions process.
We offer ‘Aptitude Places’ for students demonstrating an aptitude for Sport or the Arts – this can include sponsorship for students demonstrating exceptional talent. Please download the Aptitude Place Supplementary Form from the bottom of the page and return the completed form if you would like to apply for an ‘Aptitude Place’. Forms must be returned by Friday 8 November 2024. You will then be invited in for an aptitude place interview.
Occasionally places become available in year in all year groups, so if you wish your child to transfer to our school from elsewhere, please contact School Admissions at the London Borough of Brent to put their name on our waiting list.
Harris Lowe Academy Willesden will set admission arrangements annually. Where changes are proposed to admission arrangements there will be a public consultation on these arrangements. If no changes are made to admission arrangements the Academy consultation will only take place at least every seven years.
A copy of the approved Admissions Policy can be found below.
Joining us in Year 7
One of the biggest challenges that any student faces during their academic career is the transfer from primary to secondary school. We are confident that we have an excellent transition programme to ensure that students settle in quickly and enjoy their first few weeks at Harris Lowe Academy Willesden. Further detail about how we support students with the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 can be found on our Transition page.
For parents who wish to appeal - Year 7 admissions
Any parent(s) wishing to appeal against the academy’s decision on admissions, for any year group, should complete an appeal form stating the reason for the appeal, based on the published admissions criteria. You can also obtain an appeals form by contacting the academy by phone, email or in person.
Completed forms should be sent to the Clerk to the Appeal Panel at: Harris Lowe Academy Willesden, Doyle Gardens, Willesden, London NW10 3ST. Completed appeal forms must be received by the academy by the closing date 31st March 2025 at 4pm. Please note: the academy does not provide help with appeals.
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; the provisional dates have been booked to be during the months of May/June 2025.
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. Appeals must be made by 4pm on 31st March 2025.
Appeals lodged after these dates will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline or 30 school days of being lodged, whichever is the later date.
Year 7 key dates
31 October 2024 – CAF forms returned to home Local Authority
3 March 2025 – National Offer Day - Local Authority informs parents/carers of allocated school
31 March 2025 – 4pm deadline for appeals to be made in writing to the Academy
May – Appeals will be heard in May/June 2025.
1 September 2025 – Waiting lists closed and replaced by casual admissions waiting lists. Parents/carers will need to re-apply as a casual admission, if still waiting
Additional supporting information
If an appellant wishes to submit further evidence, which was not included with their initial appeal, they should ensure this is received at least seven clear working days (not counting the day of postage or the hearing) in advance of your appeal.
Only a short document, such as a doctor’s letter not previously available, will be accepted up to five clear working days prior to the hearing. Any additional evidence or information received after this deadline will not be circulated and may not be considered at the hearing.
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 three people (two 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. Appellants will be sent notification of their appeal hearing at least ten clear school days in advance of the hearing. Appellants will be sent a copy of the school's case at least seven clear working days in advance of the hearing.
