Admissions
St Philip’s Catholic Primary School was built primarily to serve the Catholic community in the Cathedral deanery parishes of Storrington and the Cathedral Parish, Arundel. However, the school also welcomes applications for children from other Christian denominations, other faiths and those children whose parents are seeking what St Philips has to offer.
The ethos of this school is outlined in the school’s Mission Statement and the Governors request that all parents applying for a place here respect this ethos and its importance to the school community. This does not affect the right of parents who are not Catholics to apply for and be considered for a place here.
Please refer to our Admissions Policy for information on the determined admission arrangements for the school in relation to each relevant age group at the school, including oversubscription criteria and an explanation of the process of applying for a school place. Parents may also access Admission information in the local authority’s composite prospectus published on their website on the following link: http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/learningCome and see our school in action
We encourage parents to visit our school in order to find out more about how we work and the education that we offer. Parents are welcome to arrange a visit by contacting the school office to make an appointment with the Headteacher. However, such visits are not obligatory and do not form part of the formal process of deciding which children are to be offered a place at the school. We also hold open days in the Autumn Term.
Governing Bodies of voluntary aided schools are responsible for deciding the order of priority of the Admissions criteria for their school and applications are dealt with in accordance with these.
Making an application
As well as completing the Local Authority Application Form (which may be done online), parents who are applying for a place under a faith category must complete our Supplementary Information Form. A copy of the Supplementary Information Form can be downloaded from the website and should be completed and returned to the school office, with the supporting evidence required, by the given deadline. Please contact Mrs Rosie Davut, our school admissions staff member on 01903 882115.
Copies of St Philip’s Admissions Policy and Prospectus can be requested from the School Office or downloaded here:
Supplementary Information Form (SIF) 2023-2024
St_Philips_Arundel_Admissions_Policy_2025-26
St_Philips_Arundel_(SIF) Supplementary Information Form 2025-26
Please find below the notice of consultation on admission arrangements, for St Philip's Catholic Primary School for 2025-2026 Academic Year,
St Philips Catholic Primary School Admissions Policy 2025-26
A copy of a map showing the parish boundaries is held in the office for reference or please click on the link for an online version (select Arundel or Storrington Parish from the drop down menu).
In Year Admissions
What are In Year Admissions?
You can make an in-year application if your child needs to join a school outside of the normal admissions round – for example, if you move house and your child can no longer attend their current school.
How Parents can apply for a school place
If you want to apply for an In-Year admission, you need to complete:
- A West Sussex Managed Application for In Year admission (IYA/WSCCMA) – Application Form
- The IYA/WSCCMA Application Form can be found here: IYA/WSCCMA Application Form
- You MUST return the IYA/WSCCMA Application Form to West Sussex County Council at: Moving school – West Sussex County Council
- The School’s Supplementary Information Form (SIF)
- The SIF is available above under ‘Making an application’
- You MUST return the Supplementary Information Form to the School Admissions Secretary: Mrs Rosie Davut, St Philip’s Catholic Primary School, London Road, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9B
Who processes your application?
The governing body is the admissions authority for St Philip’s Catholic Primary School and has responsibility for admissions to the school, including setting the priority of admissions when the school is oversubscribed. The governing body will consider whether it has any vacancies and if so, whether they are able to offer a place. The school will confirm to West Sussex County Council (WSCC) as soon as possible. WSCC will contact you to let you know the outcome of your application.
When will parents be notified of the outcome of their application?
Upon receipt of an In Year application, WSCC will aim to notify parents of the outcome of the application in writing within 10 school days. However, it might take up to 15 school days. You must respond to any offer of a place within ten school days.
The right to appeal
If you are refused a place at any school you applied for, you have the right to make an appeal to an independent appeal panel. Where an application is refused, the school will set out the reason for refusal.
For applications for In Year Admissions, appeals must be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged. If parents wish to appeal, they must set out the grounds for appeal in writing.
Other Information
Where an applicant is offered a school place following an in-year application, and the offer is accepted, arrangements should be made for the child to start school as soon as possible, particularly where the child is out of school.
If your child is not offered a place, you can add their name to a waiting list. Waiting lists are ranked according to each school’s admission criteria. Your child’s position on a waiting list may go down as well as up, for example, if other children with greater priority according to the school’s admission criteria are added to the list.
Note: a hard copy of this online page is available on request for parents who don’t have internet access