Lewes, East Sussex primary schools & surrounding areas & catchment areas

[Roxietrees]

Hello, my daughter is starting reception next September. We were all set to move to Kingston, small village just south of Lewes. Unfortunately I just found out the sale has fallen through (sellers changed their mind just before exchange of contracts 😡) I really want to keep my buyers but I know they won’t hang on until we find somewhere new.

The reason for the urgency of the move is I need an address in Kingston to sign my daughter up to Iford & Kingston primary, the village school in January, in case they’re oversubscribed - they were last year. It’s a small school, one form entry and average of 27 pupils per class. I really want her to go to this school, it’s got a great reputation and it’s our only real option. My daughter’s dad and I are separated and co-parent 50/50. He’s agreed to the school so long as it’s not more than 20 min away. It is exactly 20 min away from where he lives. Although I’ve heard 2020 (when she was born) is a low birth rate year. Not sure how much truth there is in that.

Anyway, my question is, if I keep my buyers and rent a house in Lewes till we find somewhere to buy in Kingston, do you think it’s still likely my daughter would get into the school? It’s not in the catchment area but it’s only 3 miles away. Problem is there are two primary schools in Lewes, slightly closer.

Another option is to stay where we are, continue with her nursery (which takes homeschooled kids up to 8) and part-time nursery part-time homeschool for her reception year then hopefully find a place in Kingston in that time and she could enter in year 1. Would that be even harder to get her in? (not entering with the other kids in reception?) She’s old for her year so delaying (other than my suggestion) isn’t an option. She’d have to enter in yr 1 not reception.

Any advice greatly, greatly appreciated. Just don’t know what to do. FYI there is nowhere to rent at all in the catchment area. That place was my only option

You'd only get a year 1 place if a child left during Reception. Would you have got a place last year from 3 miles away? If she is one of the eldest in her year a nursery may not accept her after she is five,

Have you looked at catchment area on map or the furthest distance a child was accepted last year. 3 miles seems a long way out of catchment for a primary, especially if oversubscribed. Have you looked at the primary schools in Lewes as there is a good chance you may be allocated one of these.

Love the name btw. Could you tell me how I’d find out how far the furthest distance was allocated last year please? I find the council admissions section of the website so confusing and the council pretty unhelpful. Although I did find a map which I think was the catchment area. Didn’t include Lewes, and more confusingly, a few months ago the head gave us a tour round the school (small rural school hence the head being available to do this!) and said they get kids from Newhaven, peacehaven, which also aren’t in the catchment area on that map. Newhaven & peacehaven are decent sized towns with plenty of schools plus they’re about 8 miles away. So I really don’t understand. Sorry, this is my first school age child and really struggling to get my head round the system! Ex won’t agree to a primary school in Lewes cos it too far. Also this is a fairly rural area so the distances tend be be greater than in more urban area

Do they use fixed catchment areas? Is it not on the school website?

In our area the catchment area and all the information about furthest distance allocated a place etc is all on the local authority website. Have you looked at any other possible schools as you will need to put other choices on your application in case you don't get allocated your first choice.

That’s another thing I’m wondering about. I know my ex will want to put down schools in Brighton as 2nd and 3rd choices but I thought the child had to be (for admissions purposes) at one address? And you can’t put down a school as first choice then 2 others 9 or so miles away in a different town? Do you know if that’s the case? Thanks

It has to be the child's main address ( child benefit, gp registration and so on as proof) . You can apply for schools where ever you choose but if they are oversubscribed and distance is the determining criteria chances of a place are low. Looking at the school you mention they only offered 26 places this year, within their capacity of 30. Although there were more applications this school might have been listed lower down the preferences of some who were allocated another school of their choosing. So if you listed it first, even from an address out the catchment area you would stand a good chance of a place, if not you can still go on the waiting list if needs be.

Sorry to jump on, but where do you find out the number of applications for that year @LIZS ?

On the LA website

www.eastsussex.gov.uk/education-learning/schools/apply-for-a-school-place/apply-for-a-primary-or-junior-school/detailed-school-information-primary-and-junior/primary-schools-i-to-o

Preferences would be total applications received then offers made.