Admissions - Starting school and Transfers
Choosing the school that is just right for your child and family is an important and exciting task!
There's no better way to see what's special about our school than coming to visit and seeing the school in action. Each year we show round lots of families whose children are due to start school in September or who may be moving to the area.
We hold Open School sessions, which have been hugely successful, giving new families the opportunity to come and spend an hour at the school. They involve a short presentation by our senior leadership team and a school tour provided by some of our older children, followed by an opportunity for an informal discussion, answering any questions specific to your child. Those families who visited us reported that they found this opportunity a really valuable one.
Open days for September 2026 intake
Please call the school office on 01243 785974 to book a place:
Friday 19th September 2025 10.30am
Wednesday 1st October 2025 10.30am
Wednesday 22nd October 2025 1.30pm
Wednesday 12th November 2025 10.30am
Friday 28th November 2025 10.30am
Admissions Policy:
The admission policy of this school is common to all West Sussex Community and Controlled Schools. School admissions in September 2026 to 2027 - West Sussex County Council Fishbourne CE Primary School is in the Southern Education Area of West Sussex and admits children from 4 - 11 years. The Published Admission Number (PAN) for Fishbourne CE Primary School is 30.
Fishbourne CE Primary School have a school catchment area and the link below can be used to check the catchment area for your address:
School catchment areas - West Sussex County Council
School catchment area - West Sussex County Council
Admissions into Reception
Children are entitled to a full-time school place in the September following their 4th birthday. It is the responsibility of parents or carers to apply for a school place. You do not need to have a letter from the council. Some parents may also opt to start on a part time basis or to defer entry to school until their child is of compulsory school age (but not beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year for which the offer of a place was made). Parents of summer born children may choose not to send their child to school until the September following their 5th birthday and may request that they are admitted out of their normal age group to reception, rather than year 1.
We would advise parents in the term before their child’s 4th birthday to refer to West Sussex County Council/Admissions and follow the procedure for applying for a school place for their child. Detailed information about this process can be found on the admissions website:
https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/schools-and-colleges/school-places/
Over-subscription criteria:
All schools in West Sussex have criteria to use if they receive more applications than there are places available.
At Fishbourne CE Primary, we currently use the West Sussex County Council over-subscription criteria:
1. Looked after children (children in public care), children who were previously looked after who ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a special guardianship order or child arrangements order. This includes children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Evidence must be provided;
2. Children who are subject to a Special Guardianship Order who have not previously been in Local Authority Care. Evidence must be provided;
3. Children who need a place at the school on exceptional and compelling social, psychological or medical grounds. Evidence must be provided;
4. Children who live in the catchment area with brothers or sisters already at the school or who will be attending the linked junior school when the child starts;
5. Other children who live in the catchment area;
6. Children who live outside the catchment area with brothers or sisters already at the school or who will be attending the linked junior school when the child starts;
7. Children of staff;
8. Other children who live outside the catchment area.
In Year Admissions
Parents seeking a transfer to the school In Year for a child living either inside or outside of the catchment area can apply via Moving school - West Sussex County Council. Please do contact our school office if you would like to arrange an opportunity to look around the school and meet a member of the leadership team.
If you have queries regarding the application process, please contact admissions.south@westsussex.gov.uk.
Contact No: 03330 142903
A member of the Admissions Team will consult with the head and governors before making a decision regarding the application.
