Chelsea Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after and previously looked after children. Looked after children are those who at the time of application are either in the care of a local authority or are being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social service function (as defined in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989). Previously looked after children are those who, immediately after being looked after, became subject to an adoption, child arrangement or special guardianship order1. This includes those children who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care2 outside of England and who have been adopted.
2. 2Exceptional medical or social need — Children whom the Governors and Principal accept have an exceptional medical or social need for a place at Chelsea Academy. To apply under this category, you must give us written evidence of both a clear connection between the child's need and Chelsea Academy, and an explanation of the difficulties which would be caused if the child were to attend another school. Your case must include written evidence from a medical consultant, senior social worker or other appropriate professional. You should send your evidence to Chelsea Academy or to your Local Authority by 31st October 2026.
3. 3Children of staff — Children of staff where the member of staff has been employed by the Academy (i.e. those who have an employment contract with the Academy) for two or more years at the time of application or where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
4. 4Brothers and sisters of students enrolled — Brothers and sisters of students enrolled at Chelsea Academy on 31st October 2026. This includes half-brothers or half-sisters, adopted brothers or sisters, stepbrothers or stepsisters or the children of the partner of the parent or carer, provided that they live as siblings at the same address as the applicant.
5. 5Remaining places allocated equally to foundation and community applicants — If there are places available once the previous categories have been filled these will be allocated equally to foundation and community applicants. If Chelsea Academy receives fewer applications than the number of places available in each category all those applications would be offered a place. If all qualifying foundation applicants have been offered a place any remaining places will be offered to community applicants, and vice versa. If either of the categories of foundation and community places are oversubscribed, then places will be allocated using the following oversubscription criteria:
6. 6Foundation (F1) - regularly attend a Christian church AND enrolled at a CofE primary school in RBKC (foundation feeder) — (F1) Children who regularly attend3 a Christian church4 and who on 31st October 2026 are enrolled at a Church of England (CoE) primary school in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (a foundation feeder school);
7. 7Foundation (F2) - enrolled at a CofE primary within 2.5 miles OR regularly attend a Christian church within 2.5 miles — (F2) Children who on 31st October 2026 are enrolled at a Church of England (CoE) primary school within a 2.5 mile radius5 of the Academy or who regularly attend a Christian church within a 2.5 mile radius of the Academy
8. 8Foundation (F3) - enrolled at a CofE primary school and live within 3.5 miles — (F3) Children who on 31st October 2026 are enrolled at a Church of England (CoE) primary school and who live within a 3.5 mile radius6 of Chelsea Academy
9. 9Community (C1) - enrolled at a community feeder school — (C1) Children who on 31st October 2026 are enrolled at a community feeder school;
10. 10Community (C2) - not enrolled at a community feeder school — (C2) Children who on 31st October 2026 are not enrolled at a community feeder school.

If two applications tie: If in any category we have more applications than places available, we will use the distance from your home address to Chelsea Academy as the tie-breaker. Distances will be calculated using the local authority’s computerised measuring system using a straight line (as the crow flies) measurement from the child’s home “address point” (determined by Ordnance Survey data) to the centre point of the Academy site. The child living closest to the Academy will receive the highest priority; accessibility by car or public transport will be disregarded. If applicants share the same address point (for example, those who live in the same block of flats or shared house), the distance tie-breaker will be used. Should more than one child have the same distance after this we will use random allocation, supervised independently of the Academy.

Admission arrangements 2027 – 2028 (the school's own arrangements, read 1 Oct 2026). Places split: ● If there are places available once the previous categories have been filled these will be allocated equally to foundation and community applicants. If Chelsea Academy receives fewer applications than the number of places available in each category all those applications would be offered a place. If all qualifying foundation applicants have been offered a place any remaining places will be offered to community applicants, and vice versa. If either of the categories of foundation and community places are oversubscribed, then places will be allocated using the following oversubscription criteria: | Annex A: '50% as Foundation (Church) places 50% as Community (Open) places' Distance: Distances will be calculated using the local authority’s computerised measuring system using a straight line (as the crow flies) measurement from the child’s home “address point” (determined by Ordnance Survey data) to the centre point of the Academy site.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.