Admissions
Admissions Policy - September 2026At Blackthorns Community Primary Academy, we welcome all applications for prospective new pupils. Most pupils join at the start of Reception, during the admissions round.
If you would like to apply for your child to join us outside of the admissions round, you can make an in-year application. Details of both can be found on this page
Reception Admission (Admissions Round)
Admissions round applications are made direct to West Sussex County Council (WSCC) using their common application form (CAF). Please do not apply through the academy directly. The deadlines for the 2026-27 academic year admissions round are:
- Admissions applications open: October 2025
- Closing date for applications: 15 January 2026
- The deadline to apply late for a school place with a good reason, for example, if you've moved into the area. Evidence must be provided: 11 February 2026
- Allocation letters and emails sent out (National offer day): 16 April 2026
- Induction days: Summer term 2026
West Sussex Country Council Guidance
Need help? Phone West Sussex County Council on 03330 142 903
Oversubscription Criteria
Where the number of applications for admission is greater than the published admissions number (PAN), applications will be prioritised in accordance with the oversubscription criteria set out below. After the admission of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education health and care plan (EHCP) where the Academy is named on the statement or plan, the criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below:
- Looked after children (children in public care) and previously looked after children.
- Children who are subject to a special guardianship order or kinship child arrangements order who have not previously been in local authority care. Evidence must be provided.
- Children who need a place at the academy on exceptional and compelling social, psychological or medical grounds. Evidence must be provided.
- Children of staff employed at the Academy in either or both of the following circumstances:
- Where the member of staff has been employed at the Academy for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made
- The member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage
- Children who will have a brother or sister attending the Academy at the time of admission (the term sibling means a full, step, half, adopted or foster brother or sister permanently living at the same address)
- Children living within the community area for the Academy
- Children living outside the community area for the Academy
Tie-Breaker - Oversubscription
If there are more children who qualify for a place than places available, places will be allocated to students living closest to the Academy (using the shortest distance from home to school measured in a straight line).
If, after all the relevant criteria have been applied, two applicants cannot be separated for a final place, the Academies Trust will use random allocation to determine the property for the remaining place.
In-Year Admissions
Students and families wishing to apply for places outside the normal admissions round (including Years 1 to 6, and applications to join the Academy part way through Reception) need to complete an online application on the WSCC website which is available below.
If you wish to query availability of space, please contact the Local Authority stating clearly to which academy you are referring and the year group in which you are interested.
Appeals
If the Academy has more applications than places, parents whose child has not been allocated a place may appeal. Appeals will be considered by an independent appeals panel, and this process is managed by East Sussex County Council.
Details of how to appeal can be found on the ESCC website, or by contacting the schools appeals manager at ESCC on 01273 481583, or by emailing schoolappeals@eastsussex.gov.uk.
East Sussex County Council Website - Appeals
Admissions Round Appeals
- Deadline for submitting an appeal: Thursday 14 May 2026
- Appeals to be heard: Throughout June until Thursday 16 July 2026
- Appellants will receive at least 10 school days’ notice of their appeal hearing.
- Decisions letters are sent within five school days of the hearing wherever possible.
In-Years Admissions Appeals
- deadline for receipt of an in-year appeal: you should submit your appeal within 25 school days of being told that your application was refused
- your appeal will be heard within 30 school days of it being received
- appellants will receive at least 10 school days' notice of their appeal hearing
- decision letters are sent within five school days of the hearing wherever possible.
Extra Evidence
Ideally, evidence supporting an appeal case should be submitted when you make your appeal. However, where this is not possible any extra evidence can be submitted up to seven working days before the hearing. You can send additional evidence after this deadline or bring extra items with you on the day of your hearing; however, it will be for the appeal panel to decide whether to accept any evidence received after the deadline. Submitting extra evidence late can sometimes also lead to your hearing being adjourned, or even postponed to another day.
Applications for children of staff members
If you are staff member making an application in one of the qualifying categories (ie have worked at the academy for 2 years or were recruited to a post for which there is a demonstrable skills shortage) you must also complete the supplementary information form. Please complete this online form or print and complete the form and submit it to the academy office.
Online Form
Useful Links
University of Brighton Academies Trust Admission Policy - Policies Page