Admissions

Admission Consultation 2026/2027

TKAT (The Kemnal Academies Trust) is the admissions authority for Seal Primary Academy and in accordance with our statutory duty set out in the School Admissions Code, please find attached details of a consultation for Admission 2026/2027 which commenced on Monday 14th October 2024 and will conclude on Monday 25th November 2024.

Please find below the consultation notice and policy which gives details about how you can comment on the consultation.

Consultation notice

Proposed admissions policy


Reception Admissions

Our admissions for Reception are still co-ordinated by West Sussex County Council admissions. 

West Sussex County Council can be contacted here http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions , or ring 03330 142 903 to speak to the admission department.


In Year Admissions

Admissions for year groups other than Reception are co-ordinated by the school. For all admissions we strongly advise a visit to the school to meet the Headteacher. Please phone the school office to book an appointment. Our application form is available to download at the bottom of the page.

Class sizes in Key stage 1 are set at a maximum of 30 and, because of the high demand for school places, for all in-year admissions we may ask to see proof of residence. This can take the form of tenancy agreements or utility bills in the name of anyone with legal parental responsibility for the child/children. 


Admissions Criteria 

These are the arrangements the school will use in the case of over subscription for in-year admissions. The same criteria will be used by the local authority in the case of over subscription for Reception.

  1.  Looked after children and previously looked after children. A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) at the time of making an application to the school. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Previously looked after children also includes those who have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.  

  1.  Children living in the school’s designated catchment area who have a sibling in school at the time of application and at the time of proposed entry.  Enter your postcode using the link below to check whether you fall within the school’s catchment area:  https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/schools-and-colleges/school-places/find-a-school/school-catchment-areas-202223/.  Sibling refers to a brother or sister, half-brother or half-sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/carer’s partner, and in every case, the child should be living in the same family unit at the same address.

  1. Other children with a sibling attending Seal Primary at the time of application and admission.  See sibling definition above.  

  1. Children living in the school’s designated catchment area.  See definition above.

  1. Distance.  We use the distance between the child’s permanent home address and the school, measured with the Local Authority’s software in a straight-line using Ordnance Survey address point data. Priority will be given to children living closest to the school.  Where a child lives normally during the school week with more than one parent at different addresses, the permanent home address for the purposes of school admissions will be the one where the child spends the majority of school nights Monday-Friday.


Timetable for Appeals

Your appeal will be heard at what is called a Hearing, within a time scale of 40 school days from 14th May 2024. It is likely to be heard at the end of June.

All other appeals known as ‘in-year’ admissions and those for Year R submitted after 14th May 2024 will be heard within 30 school working days of submitting the request.

Your appeal request should state your reasons for your request and any additional information/documentation/appendices should be submitted five days before the Hearing to allow time for it to be copied and distributed to all the interested parties. At least 10 working days before your appeal, unless you choose to waive this right, you will be sent detailed information regarding the process and also the date and names of the independent panel members who will hear the appeal.

The school is unable to guarantee that any original work/evidence/folders, submitted as part of the appeal, will be returned. Appellants may wish to submit copies in advance and then take important original documents verifying evidence to the appeal. 

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Welcome Office. office@seal-tkat.org


Timetable for Appeals

Your appeal will be heard at what is called a Hearing, within a time scale of 40 school days from 14th May 2024. It is likely to be heard at the end of June.

All other appeals known as ‘in-year’ admissions and those for Year R submitted after 14th May 2024 will be heard within 30 school working days of submitting the request.

Your appeal request should state your reasons for your request and any additional information/documentation/appendices should be submitted five days before the Hearing to allow time for it to be copied and distributed to all the interested parties. At least 10 working days before your appeal, unless you choose to waive this right, you will be sent detailed information regarding the process and also the date and names of the independent panel members who will hear the appeal.

The school is unable to guarantee that any original work/evidence/folders, submitted as part of the appeal, will be returned. Appellants may wish to submit copies in advance and then take important original documents verifying evidence to the appeal. 

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Welcome Office. office@seal-tkat.org


Appeals

If you wish to appeal a decision about school placement, Seal Primary Academy uses West Sussex Local Authority services to carry out the appeals process. If you would like to appeal a decision, please use the link below for more information.


Admissions Documents