Choosing which secondary schools to apply for

Merton secondary schools

You can check to see where each secondary school in Merton is by looking at the borough map.

Before deciding which schools to apply for, we advise visiting secondary schools and looking at their websites in order to gain further information.

Please do not base your decisions solely on the GCSE results, Ofsted reports, or what other people say about a school. We recommend that all families make up their own minds and that your child is involved in the application process.

Visit the schools with your child and remember that different children thrive in different environments, not just those that the parents feel are appropriate. Details of open events for Merton schools are available on our website.

Take into account the accessibility of the school from your home address.

You can find and compare schools on GOV.UK to find further information on schools close to you. If you live close to a borough boundary, you should consider applying for your local schools even if they are not in Merton. If you are thinking about applying for any schools outside Merton, please get a copy of their application information. If you are applying for schools outside Merton you must still name them on your application.

It is also important that you consider the admissions criteria for each school so you understand how places are allocated and who gets priority when a school is oversubscribed. Different schools have different admissions policies, and these may affect the chances of your child being offered a place.

If you are considering applying for a selective school in one of our neighbouring boroughs, speak to your child's primary school Headteacher to find out the likelihood of your child passing the entrance test. Please note that selective schools conduct their testing before the closing date for applications so you should know whether your child meets the entry standard before you apply.

Merton schools do not have selection tests as our schools have a fully comprehensive system.

We recommend that you make use of all six preference options available to you. You should be aware of the admissions arrangements for the school. We recommend that you check how places were offered in recent years to see whether you are within average offer distance. We also suggest that you treat the application form as a wish list; name schools in the order you want them – you definitely won't be offered a school if you do not name it – but please ensure that there are schools on your list that you have checked and are likely to be offered and you are happy with. You do not gain any advantage by naming fewer schools, or only naming oversubscribed schools, and local schools you might have secured a place in may not have spaces if you name them as late preferences.

Schools outside Merton

If you are applying for schools which are not in Merton, you still need to name them as one of your six preferences. If you do not name them as a preference, they will be unable to consider your application.

Listed below are links to the websites for our neighbouring local authorities and details of the schools available in their boroughs:

Out-borough residents

If you are not a resident in Merton but you are thinking of applying for a Secondary School place in a Merton school, you will need to apply via your home borough.

How places were offered last year

To maximise your chances of being offered a place, it is important you use all your available six preferences. Please be realistic in your assessment by using the details of how places were offered in recent years and considering schools outside of Merton if you live close to the borough boundaries.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose which school I send my child to?

No. You cannot choose the school but you do have the right to express a preference.

Each school has a maximum number of places available and they cannot offer above these numbers. Where there are more applications for places than places available these are allocated in accordance with the admissions criteria.

I live in Merton. Can I apply for secondary schools in other boroughs?

Yes. You should name all schools on your application in order of preference whether they are in Merton or in other boroughs You should check with out-of-borough schools to see if a supplementary form is required.

I do not live in Merton. Can I apply for a Merton secondary school?

Yes. You must apply through your home authority. If you live in London, your online application will automatically submit to your home authority. All places are considered according to published criteria which cannot, by law, exclude children living outside of the borough.

If I already have a child at my preferred school will I automatically get a place for my younger child?

No. You will still need to make an application and name the sibling. For Merton community or voluntary controlled schools, a sibling in Years 11, 12 & 13 will not qualify, as they will be in Sixth form or have left the school by the time of the younger child's admission. Most schools will give some priority to siblings, however you are advised to check the admission arrangements for each school you are applying for to understand where siblings fall within their criteria.

Do I have to name six schools?

No. You may name up to six schools. We would recommend using as many of your preferences as you can to maximise your chances of being offered a school place on National Offer Day, as it is not always possible to allocate places later if you add schools or change your mind.

We live in Merton. Do I have a right to a place in a Merton school?

A local authority has a responsibility to provide school places for children in its area. However, the Education Act 1996 (Section 18) does not specify that schools have to be located in that borough. If you are unsuccessful in your preference schools, we will ensure a reasonable school offer is made, taking into account travel time and distance, however this may not be one of the closest schools to your home and we recommend that you consider this when naming your preferences.

Are my preferences confidential?

Yes. Your preference order and the names of the schools you list will not be released. All admissions authorities (the local authority or the school itself) will consider your application without reference to this information. If you are unsuccessful in your application and lodge an appeal, your application and preference order may be shared with the admissions authority and appeals panel.

Contact us

School Admissions Team
Civic Centre
Morden
SM4 5DX
Email: admissions@merton.gov.uk