Schools in Chichester: Primary and Secondary, Admissions and Key Dates
How to apply for a primary or secondary school place in West Sussex for September 2027, the closing dates, and some of the state schools in and around Chichester with their official addresses.
Who handles school places in Chichester?
School admissions for the Chichester area are run by West Sussex County Council, even where a school is an academy or has its own admissions arrangements for some places. Parents apply through the council's school places service, which covers starting school, junior school, secondary school, moving school mid year, SEND places, admission outside the normal year group and appeals. The same page links to school catchment areas, admission policies and waiting list guidance.
When do I apply for a September 2027 place?
The county council publishes the key dates for each phase. For primary, infant and junior places, as published on its primary key dates page:
- applications for September 2027 open on Monday 5 October 2026
- the closing date is Friday 15 January 2027 at 11.59pm
- offer day is Friday 16 April 2027, with emails sent to on-time online applicants and letters by second class post for those without email
For secondary places, per the secondary key dates page:
- applications opened on Monday 7 September 2026
- the closing date is Saturday 31 October 2026 at 11.59pm
- offer day is Monday 1 March 2027
The council strongly recommends applying online and not leaving it to the last minute. Late applications are processed after the on-time ones, and waiting lists and appeals follow offer day.
Which schools are in and around Chichester?
West Sussex County Council's directory has an entry for each state school, with its address and links to its website, term dates, catchment area and Ofsted reports. The following are listed there with these addresses, and we make no comparison between them:
- Fishbourne CofE Primary School, Roman Way, Fishbourne, PO19 3QS
- Bosham Primary School, Walton Lane, Bosham, PO18 8QF
- Lavant CofE Primary School, West Stoke Road, Lavant, PO18 0BW
- Tangmere Primary Academy, Bishop Road, Tangmere, PO20 2JB
- Parklands Community Primary School, Durnford Close, Chichester, PO19 3AG
- Jessie Younghusband Primary School, Acres Drive, West Broyle, Chichester, PO19 3RE
- Bishop Luffa School, Bishop Luffa Close, Westgate, Chichester, PO19 3HP (secondary)
- Chichester High School, Kingsham Road, Chichester, PO19 8EB (secondary)
This is not a full list. Use the county's search for a school tool to find every school, academy and college near you, including sixth forms.
Do individual schools have their own steps?
Some do. Bishop Luffa School's admissions page says parents must complete the local authority application form and that those applying for Foundation places must also submit a supplementary form to the school, with a deadline of 31 October 2026. It gives the admissions contact as 01243 832702. Fishbourne Primary School's website lists an open afternoon for September 2027 admissions on 21 October, booking required. Check each school's own site for open events, because they differ.
How do catchment areas work?
The county council has a page for school catchment areas where you can check which schools your address falls in. Living in a catchment area is not always a guarantee of a place, and the council publishes each school's oversubscription criteria in its admission policies.
What about term dates?
See our term dates guide for the county's published dates and the caveat for academies. For travel to school, the county council also has a school and college transport page linked from its schools pages.
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