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catchment.school

Portfield Primary Academy Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Portfield Primary Academy is an academy sponsor led primary school in West Sussex , serving pupils aged 4-11, with 267 pupils, and a capacity of 285 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

4-11

Age range

267

Pupils

285

Capacity

94%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2016

Portfield Primary Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Portfield Primary Academy?

The catchment area for Portfield Primary Academy is the geographic zone West Sussex uses to prioritise admissions when this primary 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.

As an academy, Portfield Primary Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with West Sussex. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 94% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Portfield Primary Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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 →

Portfield Primary Academy: 285 places, 94% filled: nearing capacity

Portfield Primary Academy has a published admission number of 285 places. 267 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 94%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 285, West 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. 40.1% of pupils at Portfield Primary Academy are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of 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) →

Portfield Primary Academy: School Information

Full address
St James Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7HA
Local authority
West Sussex
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
4-11 years
Free school meals
40.1% of pupils
DfE URN
138402

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Portfield Primary Academy 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Portfield Primary Academy

What is the catchment area for Portfield Primary Academy?

The catchment area for Portfield Primary Academy is the geographic zone West Sussex uses to prioritise admissions when this primary 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 Portfield Primary Academy oversubscribed?

Portfield Primary Academy is operating close to its capacity of 285 places (94% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Portfield Primary Academy?

Admission to Portfield Primary Academy 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 Portfield Primary Academy cover?

Portfield Primary Academy is a primary school in West Sussex, serving pupils aged 4-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Portfield Primary Academy?

Portfield Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2016. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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