Fordwater School, Chichester Catchment Area
Fordwater School, Chichester is a community special not applicable school in Chichester, West Sussex , serving pupils aged 2-19, with 193 pupils, and a capacity of 154 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
2-19
Age range
193
Pupils
154
Capacity
125%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2013
Fordwater School, Chichester Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Fordwater School, Chichester?
The catchment area for Fordwater School, Chichester is the geographic zone West Sussex uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable 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.
The catchment area for Fordwater School, Chichester is set by West Sussex and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
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 Fordwater School, Chichester 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 →Fordwater School, Chichester: heavily oversubscribed at 125% capacity
Fordwater School, Chichester has a published admission number of 154 places. 193 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 125%. At 125% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. West Sussex allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 36.6% of pupils at Fordwater School, Chichester are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across West Sussex.
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) →
Fordwater School, Chichester: School Information
- Full address
- Summersdale Road, Chichester, PO19 6PP
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- School type
- Community special school
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 2-19 years
- Free school meals
- 36.6% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 126163
Other Not applicable Schools in Chichester
If Fordwater School, Chichester is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Chichester are the next closest alternatives.
Oakwood School Catchment Area
Other independent school · PO18 9AN
Westbourne House School Catchment Area
Other independent school · PO20 2BH
The Prebendal School Catchment Area
Other independent school · PO19 1RT
Great Ballard School Catchment Area
Other independent school · PO18 0LR
St Anthony's School Catchment Area
Community special school · PO19 5PA
Chichester High Schools Sixth Form Catchment Area
Sixth form centres · PO19 8AE
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Fordwater School, Chichester 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: Fordwater School, Chichester
What is the catchment area for Fordwater School, Chichester? ▾
The catchment area for Fordwater School, Chichester is the geographic zone West Sussex uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable 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 Fordwater School, Chichester oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Fordwater School, Chichester currently has 193 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 154 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Fordwater School, Chichester? ▾
Admission to Fordwater School, Chichester 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 Fordwater School, Chichester cover? ▾
Fordwater School, Chichester is a not applicable school in Chichester, West Sussex, serving pupils aged 2-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Fordwater School, Chichester? ▾
Fordwater School, Chichester was rated Good by Ofsted in 2013. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.