Chichester Free School Catchment Area
Chichester Free School is a free s special school in Chichester, West Sussex , serving pupils aged 4-19, with 1078 pupils, and a capacity of 1020 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
4-19
Age range
1,078
Pupils
1,020
Capacity
106%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2024
Chichester Free School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Chichester Free School?
Chichester Free School is a special school in Chichester, West Sussex, and it does not use a standard catchment area. West Sussex allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Admission to Chichester Free School follows a different process from mainstream schools. West Sussex assesses each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to determine appropriate placement. Catchment area does not apply in the same way as mainstream admissions.
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Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when West Sussex publishes the 2027 Chichester Free School numbers →
For more information on how West Sussex assesses EHCP placements and which schools are named, contact the council's SEND team directly. The council must publish its Local Offer explaining available provision.
Find West Sussex catchment area documents →Chichester Free School: at or above its 1020 place limit
Chichester Free School has a published admission number of 1020 places. 1078 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 106%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1020 places. West Sussex allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 14.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Chichester.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Chichester Free School: School Information
- Full address
- Hunston Road, Chichester, PO20 1NP
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- School type
- Free schools
- Phase of education
- Special
- Age range
- 4-19 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 14.5% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 139668
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Frequently Asked Questions: Chichester Free School
What is the catchment area for Chichester Free School? ▾
Chichester Free School is a special school in Chichester, West Sussex, and it does not use a standard catchment area. West Sussex allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Is Chichester Free School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Chichester Free School currently has 1078 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1020 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Chichester Free School? ▾
Admission to Chichester Free School is managed by West 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 Chichester Free School cover? ▾
Chichester Free School is a special school in Chichester, West Sussex, serving pupils aged 4-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Chichester Free School? ▾
Chichester Free School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2024. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.