Headteacher Message

Hello all,

I hope you are all well. I promised that I would update you regarding the SATs results our lovely Year 6 achieved last year. It is probably best to let the data do the talking. 

It is important to look at the data without the children from our Specialist Resource Provision included, but just as important to recognise the progress that these children have made during their time at Darell School. It cannot be measured by the simple blunt tool of a test. It has to do with their progress from their starting point and their development as a whole child . As such, I am just as proud of these three children as the rest of the Year 6 cohort. Leading a school with values and inclusion at its heart enables us to send children into the world who will ‘make a difference’ as they move towards adulthood and beyond.  This difference is not defined by whether they achieved the expected or the greater standard in reading. Some of it is not easily measurable. Character, resilience, empathy and the ability to communicate effectively are the skills we value at Darell School.  I think I have gone on a bit, as I sometimes do, so I will stop now and wish you all a lovely weekend. I am heading to Wales to see an old friend from University - see if you can make contact with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. It doesn’t cost much, and I promise you it will make you feel good.    

Enjoy the weekend with your precious families.

Joe Porter

Moving up to secondary school in September

Applications for September 2027 start

Children who were born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 are eligible to begin Year 7 at a secondary school in September 2027.

Applications open on Tuesday 1 September 2026 and close at 11:59pm on Saturday 31 October 2026.

You must apply through the local authority which is responsible for administering the council tax for your home, even if you intend to name a school located in another area.

If you are applying for children of a multiple birth, a separate application is required for each child.

You do not need to complete an application if your child has an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Instead contact your assessment coordinator to discuss your child’s school placement.

For a summary of the admission arrangements for all state-funded schools in the borough, please refer to the relevant school brochures provided below. Each brochure includes a link to the respective school's website, where the complete admission arrangements are published. It is your responsibility to read these arrangements thoroughly before submitting an application to understand the allocation process.

In your application, inform us if your child will have a sibling attending your preferred school(s) in September 2027. This will allow the school to apply the correct priority. 

National Offer Day is on Monday 1 March 2027. You will receive your outcome via email which the eAdmissions system sends in batches after 5 pm. If you applied online, you can also log in to your eAdmissions account after 5 pm to view your outcome and submit your response.

https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/community-information/information-and-advice/school-admissions/apply-for-a-secondary-school-place-in-september