Each year, we admit 240 boys and girls and carefully arrange them into 8 form groups. 

As an Academy, Birchwood’s Admission Policy is as follows: 

1. Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan 
2. Children looked after (children in public care). 
3. Siblings: Children who, at the closing date for applications, have a brother or sister currently attending Birchwood High School in Years 7 – 11. Current Year 7 = 31% siblings. 
4. Members of staff: Birchwood employees providing they have been employed for a minimum of two years. 
5. Priority area: Children who, at the closing date for applications, live in the chosen urban priority area of Bishop’s Stortford, Thorley Parish and the area North West of Bishop’s Stortford, namely; Albury, Berden, Birchanger, Brent Pelham, Farnham, Furneux Pelham, Little Hadham, Manuden, Much Hadham, Stocking Pelham, Takeley and The Hallingbury’s. 

• Geographical distance: Should there be places unfilled after applying criteria 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 then places will be offered on the basis of the shortest distance from their permanent residence to the school as determined by Hertfordshire County Council. 

All our Admissions Policies can be found on our Policies Page. These rules can also be found in the Local Education Authority's ‘Moving On’ Booklet.

The local authority’s on-line and paper application deadline is 31 October 2026. All prospective parents/carers seeking admission should ensure that an application is completed online via their local authority. You will receive written confirmation of your child’s place from the local authority on 1 March 2027 via email, or for those who applied on paper the confirmation will be posted first class on Monday 1 March 2025. You will need to confirm the place by 8 March 2027.  

If you wish to contact Hertfordshire Admissions Customer Care Centre, their phone number is 0300 123 4043. If you have any queries regarding Year 7 admissions at Birchwood High School, please contact the school on 01279 655936 or by email. 

Parents wishing to appeal who applied through Hertfordshire’s online system should log in to their online application and click on the “register an appeal”link. Out of county residents and paper applicants should call the Customer Service Centre on 0300 123 4043 to request their registration details and log into www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/schoolappeals and click on the “log into the appeals system" link.

Once your child has obtained a place at Birchwood, we have a carefully orchestrated Induction Programme to ensure that their transition to Year 7 works effectively. 

We work in partnership with the local education authority to ensure that places are allocated on a fair and accurate basis. Please apply for an in-year place using the link below:

• In-Year Admissions

If you wish to visit the school with your child with regard to a prospective place at the school, please contact the school's Admin Team. 

If you are unable to attend the Open Evening, or would like to see the school during a typical day, we invite you to join us for Open Week. Details and booking information can be found in the form below.

Birchwood High School's Open Week 2026 – Fill in form