The March CofE Primary School

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Children with an Education Health and Care Plan
2. 2Looked after children or previously looked after children. A ‘looked after child’ is a child who is in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation by that authority. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order.
3. 3Siblings. : A “sibling” refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted or fostered brother or sister, stepbrother or sister, or the child of a parent/carer’s partner where the child for whom the School / academy place is sought is living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling.
4. 4Children of parents who are regular worshippers in the Parish Churches of St Peter Westhampnett and St Andrews Oving. Reference to parents includes legal guardians and applies to either or both parents, or a sole parent. Where only one parent/guardian satisfies a criterion, the application will be treated equally with one where the requirement is met by two parents.
5. 5Children of parents who have been members of staff at the March CE Primary School continuously for the two years prior to the application for admission; or staff recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Applications under this category MUST be accompanied by a completed Supplementary Form. This includes all staff (teaching and non-teaching) appointed by the school, including part-time staff with a continuous employment record and any short-term contract staff with a continuous employment record covering at least term time employment, for the 2 years or more prior to admission
6. 6Children living within the ecclesiastical parishes of St Peter Westhampnett or St Andrew Oving.
7. 7Children of parents who are regular worshippers at other mainstream Christian denominations (Full members of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland); Applications under this category MUST be accompanied by a completed Supplementary Form

Published by West Sussex County Council in the Information for Parents Appendix 1 for entry in September 2026: the oversubscription criteria of every school that does not use the county's standard list for community and voluntary controlled schools. The figure beside each criterion is the number of places allocated under it for September 2025 entry. Published by West Sussex County Council in the Information for Parents Appendix 1 for entry in September 2026: the oversubscription criteria of every school that does not use the county's standard list for community and voluntary controlled schools. The figure beside each criterion is the number of places allocated under it for September 2025 entry. Published by West Sussex County Council in the Information for Parents Appendix 1 for entry in September 2026: the oversubscription criteria of every school that does not use the county's standard list for community and voluntary controlled schools. The figure beside each criterion is the number of places allocated under it for September 2025 entry.

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.