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Admissions
On 1 September 2025 The Forest School converted to an academy and formed a newly established multi-academy trust, Horsham Learning Alliance. For school application purposes the new Trust is now the admissions authority for The Forest School.
The Forest School participates in the local Fair Access Protocol when admitting vulnerable children. Please see the WSCC website for further information.
Year 7 Admissions September 2027 - Transition from Primary
Application Process 2027/2028 Intake
Applications to join The Forest School will continue to be administered through West Sussex County Council Admissions Team. Please refer to the 2027 Admissions Policy below for full details. 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:
OCTOBER 2026
- The Forest School Open Evening and School Tours take place (see visiting the school for details)
Other Key Dates: TBC
Appeals
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 for your child at your first preference school they will be added to the waiting list for that school. Our waiting lists continue to be managed on our behalf by West Sussex County Council Pupil Admissions.
For any waiting list queries, or information of how to be added or removed from the waiting list please contact: admissons.north@westsussex.gov.uk
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. Our main round admission appeals continue to be managed on our behalf by West Sussex County Council. If you wish to appeal your child’s allocated school place, this should be logged as per the process detailed on WSCC website. The details of how to register an appeal can be found here:
WSCC - Make an admissions appeal
If you wish to contact the school regarding your admission query please contact:
In Year Admission
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.
Further Information
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
