Downlands Community School Catchment Area
Downlands Community School is a community secondary school in Hassocks, West Sussex , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1250 pupils, and a capacity of 1200 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-16
Age range
1,250
Pupils
1,200
Capacity
104%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2022
Downlands Community School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Downlands Community School?
The catchment area for Downlands Community School is the geographic zone West 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. West 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 Downlands Community School are allocated by West 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.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when West Sussex publishes the 2027 Downlands Community School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by West Sussex before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find West Sussex catchment area documents →Downlands Community School: at or above its 1200 place limit
Downlands Community School has a published admission number of 1200 places. 1250 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 104%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1200 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. 7.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Hassocks.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
West 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. West Sussex Council school admissions (official) →
Downlands Community School: School Information
- Full address
- Dale Avenue, Hassocks, BN6 8LP
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 7.9% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 126087
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Downlands Community 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Downlands Community School
What is the catchment area for Downlands Community School? ▾
The catchment area for Downlands Community School is the geographic zone West 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. West Sussex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Downlands Community School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Downlands Community School currently has 1250 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1200 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Downlands Community School? ▾
Admission to Downlands Community 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 Downlands Community School cover? ▾
Downlands Community School is a secondary school in Hassocks, West 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 Downlands Community School? ▾
Downlands Community School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.