The Forest School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children (children in public care), children who were previously looked after who ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a special guardianship order or child arrangements order. This includes children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Evidence must be provided.
2. 2Special Guardianship (not previously in Local Authority Care) — Children who are subject to a Special Guardianship who have not previously been in Local Authority Care. Evidence must be provided.
3. 3Exceptional and compelling social, psychological or medical grounds — Children who need a place at the school on exceptional and compelling social, psychological or medical grounds. Evidence must be provided.
4. 4Children within Horsham Community Designated Area — Children who reside within the Horsham Community Designated Area, in the following order of precedence: a. children with brothers or sisters already attending the school who will still be there when the child starts; b. students living to the west of the north-south line and preferring Tanbridge House will be given priority at Tanbridge House School and students living to the east of the north-south line preferring the Forest or Millais School will be given priority at one of those schools; c. students living in the rest of the Horsham Community Designated Area.
5. 5Children living outside the Horsham Community Designated Area — Children living outside the Horsham Community Designated Area in the following order: a. children with brothers or sisters already attending the school who will still be there when the child starts; b. Children of staff of the Forest School; c. other applicants.

If two applications tie: The tie-break used is a straight-line distance. All distances are measured by a straight line from the school to the child's home address, using Ordnance Survey data within the curtilage of the property. If straight-line distance is identical, random allocation will subsequently be used to determine priority (applicable to flats).

Staff priority applies to children of staff of the Forest School only (not the Trust or any other college/school in the Trust) where: (a) the member of staff has been employed at the Forest School for two or more years at the time of admission, and/or (b) the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Staff priority appears at Priority 5b (outside designated area only).

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.