Admissions
Kensington Aldridge Academy is a high performing London school with a strong local and national reputation. In 2017, Ofsted graded the school not only “outstanding” in all areas but “exceptional” and in 2018 we were awarded TES Secondary School of the Year. You can read our 2017 Ofsted report here and our 2022 Good Schools Guide review here.
We serve a diverse and ambitious west London community and pride ourselves on being an inclusive school in which every child is treated as intelligent and individual. Our students are supported, stretched and challenged to get the very best results, with Ofsted noting “students, including the most able, make excellent progress”. Our sixth form, including our careers and universities support, is also highly successful. Underpinning all this is our ambitious KAA culture, built around our motto “Intrepidus”, which drives all the work that we do.
Secondary Transfer applications to KAA
The Academy is non-selective and follows the standard admissions policy within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This means that places are allocated according to proximity to the Academy and there is no selection on the grounds of ability or religion.
The Admissions number (the maximum allowed in each year) for the Academy is 210. Where the number of applications for admission is greater than this, applications will be considered against the criteria set out on the Royal Borough’s website.
Applications are made through the Royal Borough, and online applications should be completed through this site: https://www.eadmissions.org.uk. The closing date for applications to RBKC secondary schools for September 2025 entry is 31st October 2024.
If you are applying from Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, or Westminster please go through your home borough.
KAA Admissions Policy 2025-26 Performing Arts aptitude admissions
KAA also admits up to 21 students who are able to demonstrate an aptitude in Performing Arts through an aptitude test. The first ten of these places will be offered to students who qualify for “pupil premium”.
Applicants for these places in September 2025 must complete an online supplementary application form by Sunday 6th October 2024.
Our annual assessment day for the aptitude tests will take place mid-October each academic year. The test consists of three sections: Music, Dance and Drama. These tests look at raw aptitude in these areas and are not something that your child needs to specifically ‘revise’ or prepare for. Each test will last for around 20 minutes; therefore, applicants will be required for 60 minutes in total. If your child qualifies for the pupil premium, it’s vital you bring proof of this to the assessment day.
The academy will then email the results of your child’s performance in each test. In this letter we will indicate whether you should apply through the Performing Arts aptitude route or via by the normal admission route.
For further information about the Performing Arts aptitude admissions process please visit our Performing Arts admissions page.
In-Year Admissions
Parents or carers who would like to apply for a place at the Academy at any time other than primary to secondary transfer will need to apply using the RBKC Secondary In-Year Admission application form. For further information and to download an application form, please visit https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/children-and-education/school-admissions/applying-school-place-year.
Once an application has been received by the RBKC Admissions Team, your child’s name will be placed on a waiting list in accordance with the published admissions criteria.
Sixth Form admissions
If you are interested in applying to KAA Sixth Form, please see details on our Sixth Form Applications page.
Appeals
If you have not been offered a place at Kensington Aldridge Academy, the law entitles you to appeal against that decision to an Independent Appeal Panel. This panel is completely independent of the school and the Local Authority. All appeals will be heard online which has the advantage that your appeal can be heard from your home or place of work.
If you wish to appeal, please use this link to complete your appeal online. Please do NOT use ANY other appeal form or send your form to your local authority. It is suggested that you download the explanatory booklet about appeals which you should read before you complete the appeal form. Booklet Link
You should include any evidence or supporting material with your appeal form and you MUST give the grounds for your appeal at the time you lodge your appeal form. Your appeal form will not be accepted unless you state the grounds for your appeal. You may appeal for more than one school, but on different forms.
Any letters or reports that you wish the panel to see should be uploaded at this time. You are asked to bear in mind that if you later send additional information, the closing date is 5 working days before the STAGE 1 hearing. All appointed panels have agreed NOT to take any late letters or reports after the 5 working day deadline. This will be strictly enforced. For secondary/primary transfer appeals, the hearing will take place at least TWO months after the refusal letter. This gives you plenty of time to get your evidence together if you act early and take account of school holidays.
Please note that the online form will ask you to download two utility bills dated in the last THREE months. If you do not have access to a scanner, please take two photographs with a mobile phone and upload the photographic files.
Full details about the hearing will be sent to you with your invitation to the hearing.
If you wish to contact the clerk, please email clerk@educationappeals.com
For the appeals timetable for in-year appeals 2024-25, please click here.
More information
If you would like to find out more or have questions about applying to KAA, please see our Prospectus, register for one of our Academy Open Days, or view our FAQs.
For more information on the Secondary Transfer process please visit the RBKC Secondary Transfer page or read our KAA Admissions Policy 2025-26 (for September 2025 entry).