Admissions

Admissions at St Mary's

St Mary’s is a one-form entry Catholic primary school in the centre of Worthing and forms part of the Bosco Catholic Education Trust. 

The local governing committee is the admissions authority and has responsibility for admissions to this school, including setting the priority of admissions when the school is oversubscribed. The local authority undertakes the co-ordination of admission arrangements during the normal admission round. 

Although Catholic children have priority of admission, this does not affect the right of an applicant who is not Catholic to apply for a place for their child at the school. The school welcomes applications from those of other denominations and faiths, or of none. The school was set up primarily to service the Catholic community in the parish of Worthing and Lancing. 

Visits to the school are encouraged and can be arranged by contacting the school office on 01903 234115.

In-Year Admissions

1. Complete in-year admissions forms

To apply for an in-year place during the academic year for your child into Year R to 6, please complete our in-year application form and Supplementary Information Form and return it directly to the school. There is no need to apply to the local authority in the case of in-year admissions.

2. Submit your evidence

Please provide a copy of a utility bill or bank statement to verify your child’s address as main place of residence.

If your child is Catholic, we also require a copy of their baptismal certificate.

In the case of other faiths, a baptismal certificate and a letter of support from your faith leader should be provided.

3. Wait For Your Offer

Following the admissions code we will process your application within 3 days of receipt. We will either offer the place or confirm in writing your child has been added to our waiting list.

You must respond to any offer of a place within ten school days.

You are able to appeal through the usual appeals process (outlined below) if your child’s application is not accepted.

4. Stay in touch

We will contact you if and when a place becomes available for your child at St Mary’s.

We are unable to hold places and if a child is offered a place they are expected to commence within ten days of the offer.

Starting School in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

1. Apply Online via your Local Authority

Please complete your local authority’s Common Application Form (CAF) online between October and January when your child is approaching school starting age.
Late applications are only considered after all offers to those who applied on time have been made.

Apply Online
Starting School Leaflet

Deadline: 15th January 2023

2. Complete Our Form

Next, please complete our Governors’ Supplementary Information Form (SIF) so that we can categorise your application in accordance with our admissions policy.
Whilst this form is not compulsory, if not submitted, the Governors can only consider your application within the last criterion of our admissions policy.

Supplementary Information Form (SIF)

3. Wait For Your Offer

The local authority are responsible for making offers for places at schools in West Sussex and usually do so in April.
Depending on how you completed the Common Application Form (CAF) in step 1, West Sussex County Council will contact you by email or by post.

4. Accepting or Appealing

If you wish to accept the offer made by the local authority, complete the form we send to you. Once we have received your acceptance form we will write to you to confirm details for starting school later in the year.
However, if you are unhappy with the decision made by the local authority, please refer to their appeals process.

West Sussex Appeal Process
Admission Appeals Process and Timetable