1 Overview
If we cannot offer your child a place at any of your preferred schools, we will offer a place at your catchment school, if available.
Or, if the catchment school is full, you will be offered a place at the nearest school to your home address with a place available.
You have the right to appeal against a decision not to offer your child a place at your preferred school and to place them on a waiting list. The process is explained on the next page.
2 Before you appeal
Read the following information to find out what you can do if you have not been offered a place at the school you want:
Please note that appealing for a school place does not give priority on a waiting list.
If you were refused a school place outside of West Sussex then you need to contact the admissions authority for the school refused for information on their appeal process.
A provisional schedule for community and controlled school appeals for 2025 is available below. These dates may change. You will be notified by the appeals administrator of the actual date of your appeal.
| School | 2025 appeal dates |
|---|---|
| Ifield Community College | 28 April to 2 May |
| Oriel High School | 6 May to 9 May |
| The Weald School | 6 May to 7 May |
| Oathall Community College | 15 May to 16 May |
| Downlands Community School | 19 May to 21 May |
| Imberhorne School | 22 May to 23 May |
| The Forest School | 2 June to 5 June |
| Davison High School | 4 June to 5 June |
| West Green Primary School | 9 June |
| West Wittering Parochial CofE School | 10 June |
| Tanbridge House School | 16 June to 20 June |
| Aldingbourne Primary School | 19 June |
| South Bersted CofE Primary School | 20 June |
| Jessie Younghusband Primary School | 23 to 24 June |
| Balcombe CofE Primary School | 25 June |
| Bolney CofE Primary School | 25 June |
| Handcross Primary School | 25 June |
| Rudgwick Primary School | 26 June |
| Slinfold CofE Primary School | 26 June |
| Birchwood Grove Primary School | 26 June |
| Walberton and Binsted CofE Primary School | 26 June |
| Camelsdale Primary School | 1 July |
| Arunside School | 2 to 3 July |
| Heron Way Primary School | 2 to 3 July |
| Kingslea Primary School | 2 to 3 July |
| Warnham Primary School | 2 to 3 July |
| North Lancing Primary School | 3 July |
| Thakeham Primary School | 7 to 8 July |
| Thomas A Becket Infant School | 10 July |
3 How to appeal
Read the following information to find out how to make an appeal:
- School admission appeals - a guide for parents (PDF, 565KB)
- School admission appeals code (PDF, 277KB)
Please complete a separate appeals form for each school:
Online school appeals formYou can find out more about appeals for infant class sizes on GOV.UK.
All appeals are heard by an independent panel and its decision is binding. If you decide to appeal, you will be sent a letter with the appeal hearing date. You will be invited to attend the appeal and you may take someone with you for support. The hearing will be conducted as informally as possible and you will have the opportunity to put forward your case and ask questions.
If your appeal is refused, the relevant local admissions authority will not consider a further application or appeal for a place at the same school, in the same academic year, unless there is a significant material change in your circumstances or those of the school.