Application Process 2026/2027 Intake

Applications to join The Forest School will continue to be administered through West Sussex County Council Admissions Team.  Their existing Admissions Policy which applied before the school converted will apply for 2026 admissions. Please visit the West Sussex County Council website for further information and to complete an online application. 

You will be advised on the outcome of your application by West Sussex County Council admissions at the beginning of March. After this date, if you are successful in gaining a place at The Forest School, the Transition Team will be in contact with a welcome pack and information regarding the comprehensive and exciting transition programme.

KEY DATES:

MONDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2025

• Secondary school applications open for September 2026

OCTOBER 2025

• The Forest School Open Evening and School Tours take place (see visiting the school for details)

FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 2025

• Closing date for all secondary school applications at 11.59pm
• Please ensure you specify your email address if you have one.

NOTE: In case of technical issues we strongly recommend you apply online and not delay your application until the last minute. If you choose to apply on a paper form, it is your responsibility to ensure the form arrives before the national closing date.

FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2025

• Closing date for out of time applications made after the application deadline
• Closing date for receipt of evidence regarding a request to change preferences due to a genuine unforeseen reason
• Closing date for receipt of evidence for house movers

MONDAY 2 MARCH 2026

• National Offer Day - on-time online applicants notified which school their child has been offered by email (if you provided a contact email address on your application)
• Applicants who submitted a paper form will be emailed their allocation later this day if an email address was provided in the application.  
• Applicants who do not have an email address will receive a letter by second class post.

MONDAY 30 MARCH 2026 onwards

• Late applications received on or after 29 November 2025 are processed and offers made.

Waiting lists will be established and places offered if they become available.

APRIL TO AUGUST 2026 

• An independent appeal panel hears appeals lodged by parents/carers.

Places are allocated according to strict oversubscription criteria, details of which are found on the West Sussex County Council website.

The Published Admissions Number (PAN) for 2026 is 228.  The Forest School currently operates a catchment area in line with the existing policy. 

If you are unsuccessful in gaining a place your child will be added to the waiting list. The Forest school will operate a waiting list in line with the admissions code until 31 December in any given academic year of entry, which is ranked against the criteria for that specific admissions year only.

A parent can request to remove their child from the list by contacting the school.

Appeals:

You have the right to appeal against a decision not to offer your child a place at The Forest School if it was your preferred school, and to place them on the waiting list. If you wish to appeal your child’s allocated school place, this should be logged directly with the school.  The appeal must be made in writing by the dates specified below.  Please note that the timetabled dates for appeals can be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Dates TO BE CONFIRMED.

Please send all appeal information and documentation directly to:

admissions@theforestschool.net

In-year applications to join The Forest School outside of the normal admissions round  will continue to be administered through the West Sussex County Council Admissions Team.  Please visit the West Sussex County Council website for further information and to complete an online application. 

Horsham (North) Pupil Admissions Office, County Hall North (Parkside), Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1XH.

The WSCC webpage on Applying for Secondary School Places contains a great deal of useful information in addition.

Tel: 033 301 42903, please ask for Horsham 
Email: admissions.north@westsussex.gov.uk
Website: WestSussex

The Forest School can be contacted directly with regards to more general admission queries, information on appeals and waiting lists. 

Tel: 01403 261086 ext. 305 Email: admissions@theforestschool.net