Admissions
Secondary Transfer
RBA is a very popular and oversubscribed school. In order to retain our principle of knowing every child, we currently accept up to 150 places in Year 7 and last year we received well over 500 applications. Therefore, families that put RBA as their first choice are highly likely to be allocated RBA as their school of choice.
We are our own admitting authority but Hertfordshire Local Authority manages the transfer and entry to Robert Barclay Academy on our behalf.
If you live in Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) will co-ordinate the allocation process for a Year 7 place for September. You will need to complete the Hertfordshire County Council common application form when the secondary transfer process takes place from 1st September. You can do this online at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions or telephone 0300 123 4043 for a paper application form, once the secondary transfer allocation process has commenced.
If you live in Essex, you should apply to Essex County Council (ECC), and they will forward on your application to us. You should apply online in the same way as above, by clicking here.
There is no need to complete a SIF (Supplementary Application Form) for Robert Barclay Academy.
The deadline for submitting completed common application forms to HCC or ECC is 31st October and you will be informed of your allocation on 3 March 2025.
Please find a link below for the Herts CC admissions website
In Year Admissions
We co-ordinate our own in year admissions. If your child is moving schools in year, please complete the Application Request Form (below) and return to admin@robertbarclayacademy.co.uk
Admissions Policies
School Admission Appeal Timetable
In Year Appeals
Appeals resulting from in year admission applications will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.
September 2026 entry
Appeals resulting from secondary transfer applications for admission in September 2026 will be heard according to the following timetable:
| Secondary Transfer |
Date |
|---|---|
| Allocation Day |
2 March 2026 |
| Appeals Lodged By |
27 March 2026 (4pm) |
| Appeals to be heard between |
29 April and 15 June 2026 (excluding half term and bank holidays) |
- 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.
- Appellants (the person who made the appeal) will be sent notification of their appeal hearing at least 14 calendar days in advance of the hearing (unless you've been requested to agree shorter timescales).
- Appellants will be sent a copy of the school’s case 7 working days in advance of the hearing.
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 7 clear working days, not counting the day of postage or the hearing, in advance of your appeal.
Please remember that any confidential medical/social evidence submitted to the Admission Authority (AA) in support of your application will not be provided to an appeal panel. If you wish to rely on this in support of your appeal you will need to submit this documentation to the appeals team.
Only a short document, such as a doctor’s letter not previously available, will be accepted up to 4 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.
