Chailey School Catchment Area
Chailey School is a community secondary school in Lewes, East Sussex , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 855 pupils, and a capacity of 870 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-16
Age range
855
Pupils
870
Capacity
98%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2012
Chailey School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Chailey School?
The catchment area for Chailey School is the geographic zone East Sussex uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. East Sussex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Secondary school places at Chailey School are allocated by East Sussex using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.
Get an alert if Chailey School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by East Sussex before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find East Sussex catchment area documents →Chailey School: 870 places, 98% filled: nearing capacity
Chailey School has a published admission number of 870 places. 855 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 98%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 870, East Sussex's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 12.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Lewes.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
East Sussex publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. East Sussex Council school admissions (official) →
Chailey School: School Information
- Full address
- Mill Lane, South Chailey, Lewes, BN8 4PU
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 12.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 114594
Other Secondary Schools in Lewes
If Chailey School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Lewes are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Chailey School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Chailey School
What is the catchment area for Chailey School? ▾
The catchment area for Chailey School is the geographic zone East Sussex uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. East Sussex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Chailey School oversubscribed? ▾
Chailey School is operating close to its capacity of 870 places (98% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Chailey School? ▾
Admission to Chailey School is managed by East Sussex. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Chailey School cover? ▾
Chailey School is a secondary school in Lewes, East Sussex, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Chailey School? ▾
Chailey School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2012. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.