Admissions

In common with other local primary schools all parents wishing their children to join our School must contact:

Pupil Admission Office South.

Tel: 03330 142 903

email: admissions.south@westsussex.gov.uk

This office is open Monday-Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm, including school holidays.

Age Stages:

4 - 5 years - Reception Foundation Stage

5 - 6 years - Y1 Key Stage One

6 - 7 years - Y2

7 - 8 years - Y3 Key Stage Two

8 - 9 years - Y4

9 - 10 years - Y5

10 - 11 years - Y6

Our admissions police's can be seen below & also found under Policies and Forms.

For further information on West Sussex Admissions please click on the link below

West Sussex Admissions Page

Applications for children with SEND

Applications for children with SEND must follow the same admissions process. Please refer to the policy above. If you would like to discuss the specific needs of your child, our SENDCo or the Headteacher will be able to advise you further. Please contact the school office to arrange a mutually convenient time for a conversation and if appropriate school visit.

Joining during the school year

If your child joins our school during the year or at any other point during the Primary years, you can rest assured that we will do all that we can to ensure a smooth transition into life here at Downsbrook.

We will ensure that you have the opportunity to tour the school with your child prior to their start date and the school Admissions Manager will ensure that you have all the necessary information regarding our school day, our uniform and anything else that you might need in the first few weeks.

On the first day in school, you and your child will be met by a senior member of staff and your child will be given a 'class buddy' to help them orientate and settle in.

We will be on hand to answer any and all of your questions.

Appeals

If we do not offer a child a place at our school, it is because in doing so we would prejudice the education of other children by allowing class sizes to increase beyond our capacity. In line with infant class size regulation, we take up to 30 children per class, unless there are exceptional circumstances which must fall into the statutory criteria.

If you are not offered a place at our school, you have the right to appeal to an independent panel.

If you are not offered a place at our school, you have the right to appeal to an independent panel. An appeals panel decision is binding on all parties.

Appellants will need to contact the Local Authority within 20 days of notification that their application was unsuccessful.

Please click on the link below for more information.

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/schools-and-colleges/school-places/school-appeals-and-waiting-lists/

Downsbrook Primary School’s Appeals Timetable

September 2025 entry

Appeals for children refused a place at a preferred school for admission to Reception class in September 2025 will be heard in line with the School Admissions Appeals Code (2012).

	Offer date	Deadline for lodging an appeal
Primary	16th April 2025	16th May 2025
		after 16th May 2025 (late appeals)

‘On-time’ appeals will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals. Appeals lodged after these dates will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline or 30 school days of being lodged, whichever is the later date.

Parents/carers will be notified of their appeal date by the West Sussex Appeals Administrator at least 5 days before the hearing. They will provide a copy of the school’s statement of case which will be sent to each parent/carer at least 5 days before the hearing.

Any additional evidence parents/carers wish to submit in support of their appeal must be sent to the West Sussex Appeals Administrator at least 5 working days before the hearing. Any evidence not submitted by this deadline may not be considered by the independent appeal panel.

If you wish to visit the school prior to making an application, please phone the school on 01903 230467 or email office@downsbrook.org to make an appointment.

Please read this and follow this link to the West Sussex Appeals.

Transfer to Secondary School 2025

ws110 a secondary transfer admissions poster 2025 from graphics.pdf

Starting School September 2025

open days poster 24 25.jpg

Please book here for our open events