How long has One Degree Academy been at Chase Farm?

When did One Degree Academy open?

What is a free school?

Will One Degree Academy be inspected by Ofsted?

Why does London need another school?

Who is Funding One Degree Academy?

Are you supported by a particular faith group or organisation?

Why should I send my child to the school in its opening years?

When does my child have to start school?

Who is the special needs education coordinator?

We moved to Chase farm in September 2021. The Chase Farm Hospital development houses One Degree Academy’s brand new building and state-of-the-art educational facilities.

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We opened in September 2016 with a cohort of Reception children and have continued to grow each year

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Free schools are independent, state-funded schools. They have the same legal status as academies.

Like all state-funded schools, free schools are not fee-paying, and they are not selective. We expect to follow the local authority’s admissions arrangements.

Free schools are set up and owned by charities, and cannot make a profit.

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Yes. We were graded as Outstanding in all areas in February 2019. Please see here for details and our report.

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Schools in London are almost full and local councils have said they will need an extra 118,000 places in the next three years. We are hoping to be part of this solution in providing these much needed school places as well as improving the education provision in London.

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Funding for free schools is from the government and will be equivalent to the funding of maintained schools and academies in the same local authority area. The opening of a free school does not mean that the overall funding available in an area goes down. However, the total funding an individual school receives will depend on the number of pupils attending.

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No. We are a group of education experts, teachers and business leaders, passionate about improving the educational outcomes for young people. We believe in equality, regardless of faith or socio-economic background.

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With pressure on school places, One Degree Academy is likely we will be over-subscribed very soon. Once opened, other free schools have had waiting lists for their opening year cohorts. A school’s beginning is a very special time; we urge to register your interest now.

Also see the video of our parents here.

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When do children have to start school? 
All children are entitled to start school full-time in the September following their fourth birthday. However, some parents may feel that their child is not ready to enter the reception class at that time. If that is the case, they may opt to defer entry or delaying starting school. 

By law, children have to be in full-time education by the start of the term following their fifth birthday – when they reach ‘compulsory school age’. 

What are the options?
If parents don’t want their child to start school full time in the September following their fourth birthday it is possible to:

1. Opt for part time admission to the allocated school from the September following their child’s fourth birthday (but not beyond the point at which they reach compulsory school age);
2. Opt to defer their child’s entry for a term or two terms (i.e until they are of compulsory school age) so that they don’t start straight away in the September following their fourth birthday;
3. Opt to defer their child’s entry until the September following their fifth birthday, if they were born in the summer – but they would need to reapply for a place and the child would start in year one;
4. Request to delay their child’s entry, holding them back from joining the correct year group for their age and starting school in the reception a year later

Please contact us, if you are unsure if your child should be or is able to start school.

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Our special needs coordinator is Kirsty Pacey– she can be contacted on 020 3150 1144.

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