Admissions

Are you looking for a Year R space in September 2027-2028? If so, why not come and see what Riverview has to offer you and your child?

If your child was born between 1^st September 2022 and 31^st August 2023, and you wish to apply for a place here at The Riverview Academy, the key dates for the application process are listed below. In addition, KCC have produced a fact sheet and leaflet explaining the process. Please click on the following links to view them:

Primary-Admissions-Leaflet-2027

Primary-Admissions-Leaflet-2027-Fact-sheet

School Tours

Thursday 15 October 2026 (9:00-10:00am)
Saturday 17 October 2026 (10:00am-12:00pm)
Thursday 12 November 2026 (9:00-10:00am)
Thursday 19 November 2026 (9:00am and 6:00pm)
Wednesday 25 November 2026 (1:30-3:00pm)
Wednesday 2 December 2026 (1:30-3:00pm & 6:00-7:00pm)

Please contact the school office if you would like to book a space via: riverview@golden-thread.org

If you wish to arrange a general tour of the school for an in-year admission enquiry, please contact Mrs Sam Bailey, at riverview@golden-thread.org for further details.

Admission To The Riverview Academy

Applying to start Primary school in Reception – If your child is due to start Reception and you would like to apply for a place at The Riverview Academy, applications can be made to Kent County Council for a place at our school. We encourage parents/carers to come and view our wonderful school and Open Events will be held each Autumn term during the applications window.
Applying for an ‘In-Year’ place – If you would like your child to start at The Riverview Academy, at any other time than Reception Year in September, please contact Mrs Sam Bailey at the school on 01474 352620, and/or download a copy of the In Year Admissions Form below. This form must be completed and returned to The Riverview Academy Admissions Officer.

Our Published Admission Number (PAN) is 120 pupils in each year group.

Oversubscription

All applications to our school are ranked against our oversubscription criteria and places are offered on that basis. For more information on our oversubscription criteria, please see the Determined Admissions arrangements below.

Sibling Links

Once a sibling link has been broken, sibling priority will be permanently lost for that child regardless of any further address moves a family may make in the future.

Reception 2027-28 Intake: Key Dates

Friday 6th November 2026

Online application process opens. All parents should go to www.kent.gov.uk/primaryadmissions to register and apply.

If you are unable to register online please contact kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk who will be able to assist you with an alternative method of applying.

Friday 15th January 2027

Online application process closes for the main round.

Any amendments after this date must be emailed to kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk

Friday 16th April 2027

National Offer Day.

Offers of school places sent to parents via email after 4pm.

Friday 30th April 2027

Deadline for parents to contact school to accept/refuse the place that has been offered.

Parents should also fill out the waiting list form from the link in the offer email to be added to the waiting list of schools named on the original application.

Thursday 13th May 2027

Reallocation Offer day for the second round of applications.

After this date waiting lists will be maintained by the schools and they will send out offers for any places that may become available.

By Monday 17th May 2027

Appeals need to be lodged by this date to be heard before September.

Appeals information can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/schoolappeals .

You can only appeal for schools that were named on your RCAF.

June to July 2027

Admissions appeals are held.

Steps to Starting School

Steps-to-Starting-School

Starting Reception 2027

Home – Starting School

September 2027

Pupils will start school.

Reception Main Round Appeals 2027/28

How to submit your appeal

If your child is due to start Primary school in September 2027, you can appeal if you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer Day (Friday, 16th April 2027).

You must submit your appeal before Monday 17th May 2027 for it to be considered by Monday 19th July 2027. Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 school days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education.

For late applications, appeals should be heard within 40 school days from the deadline for lodging appeals where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education.

In-Year Admissions Applications

If you would like to apply for a place at The Riverview Academy outside of the normal admissions round, you will need to complete an In-Year Admission Form. Parents are invited to make their application online via the following link:-

Apply for an In Year Admission – Dash

Your application will be sent automatically to the Admissions Officer at The Riverview Academy for processing. A copy will also be sent to the Kent In Year Admissions Team for monitoring purposes. Further details on the in-year admission process can be found at Move to a different school – Kent County Council

As part of our ID checks, we ask parents to provide supporting evidence to show that they are living at the address from which the application is being made, details are as follows:-

Your child’s birth certificate and/or valid passport;
2026-27 Council Tax Statement OR signed tenancy agreement;
ONE of the following documents: Driver’s licence;
Schedule of motor insurance;
Utility bill such as gas/electricity/water/telephone/broadband;
Payslip.
Any ONE of the following to show your child is also living at this address at the same time: Child or Working Tax Credit/Child Benefit/JSA/Disability Benefit/Universal Credit Letter;
Savings account statement;
NHS medical card;
NHS immunisation letter;
Hospital appointment letter;
GP registration letter;
Pre-school/nursery invoice (for Reception children only).

If there are no places available at the time of your application, your child will be placed on the waiting list. Applicants are prioritised in accordance with our over-subscription criteria:-

Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children
Health, Social and Special Access Reasons
Current Family Association
Children of Staff
Nearness of child’s home to the school

Admissions Policy 2027/2028 Admissions Policy 2026/2027 Admissions Policy 2025/2026 Kent County Council - How to apply for a Primary School Place Kent County Council Admissions