ADMISSIONS
Thank you for your interest in applying for a place at Warden Park Secondary Academy. We are a highly regarded and significantly oversubscribed school, proud of our vibrant and inclusive learning community.
Before applying, we strongly encourage all prospective families to read the three key documents listed below. These provide essential information and will help guide your decision-making:
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Families Guide – An overview of life at Warden Park, including our values, curriculum, approach to home learning, and the platforms and systems we use to support learning.
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Home-School Agreement – Outlines the mutual expectations between the academy, parents/carers, and students to ensure a successful partnership.
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Uniform and Appearance Guide – Provides detailed guidance on how our uniform should be worn, including expectations around jewellery, hair colour and style, PE kit, and footwear.
Please ensure you have read all three documents thoroughly before submitting an application.
Admissions Criteria
Admissions to Warden Park Secondary Academy are made in line with the statutory guidance provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and the requirements of the School Admissions Code.
Admissions 2026/27
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FORM FOR ADMISSION IN 2026/27
This form should be completed when applying for a place at Warden Park Secondary Academy, Cuckfield, only if you meet one or more of the following conditions :
- Your child has a brother or sister* who is a student at Warden Park Secondary Academy and will be in Year 11 at the time of the application deadline.
- Your child has a parent, step-parent, adoptive parent, or carer who is employed by Warden Park Secondary Academy.
- Your child is currently on roll at another member school of the Sussex Learning Trust at the point of application.
*Siblings may be half-siblings, step-siblings, adopted, or the child of the parent/carer’s partner, but must reside permanently at the same address.
General Admissions Criteria
Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that name Warden Park will be given priority for a place if the school is able to meet needs. This may include specialist provision in the SSC which will need to be agreed by the local authority, otherwise the need will be met within mainstream school.
For all other applicants, places will be allocated using the following oversubscription criteria. Where categories are oversubscribed, distance from home to school (measured in a straight line) will be used as a tie-breaker.
Oversubscription Criteria
- Looked After Children, previously Looked After Children, and children who have left care under a Special Guardianship or Residence Order [1].
- Children with exceptional and compelling social, psychological, or medical needs for a place at Warden Park at the point of application [2].
- Children living within the catchment area with a sibling on roll at the point of application [3] [4].
- Children living outside the catchment area with a sibling on roll at the point of application [3] [4].
- Children currently on roll at Warden Park Primary Academy.
- Children whose parent or carer works at Warden Park Secondary Academy.
- Children living within the catchment area, on roll at another Sussex Learning Trust school at the point of application.
- Other children living within the catchment area.
- Children living outside the catchment area, on roll at another Sussex Learning Trust school at the point of application.
- All other applicants.
Important Notes
[1] A Looked After Child is defined as one who is in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation under Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989.
[2] Applications under this category must be supported by written evidence from an appropriately qualified professional (e.g. a doctor or social worker), clearly stating why Warden Park is uniquely suited to meet the child’s specific needs. Letters from parents alone are not sufficient. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of three Academy Directors, with advice from the Headteacher.
[3] A sibling is defined as a half or step-sibling, adopted sibling, or the child of the parent/carer’s partner, residing permanently at the same address.
[4] The application submission deadline is determined by West Sussex County Council.
In the event of oversubscription in any category, proximity to the school will determine priority, measured in a straight line from the child’s home front door to the main entrance of the academy using Ordnance Survey data. The address used must be the one registered with the local authority at the time of application. This will be verified by the school before a final offer is made. A current council tax bill in the name of the applicant will need to be produced.
Application Process
Admission arrangements for Warden Park are co-ordinated by: Pupil Admissions Office, County Hall North, Horsham, West Sussex. RH12 1XA. Tel: 01403 229102. Fax: 01403 240158. Email: admissions@westsussex.gov.uk
For information about how to apply, please go to www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions. Applications are usually made on line. If you have problems, please alert the Pupil Admissions Office.
Applicants from East Sussex must complete the East Sussex application form. This can be completed on line. The form will be forwarded to the West Sussex Admissions Office by East Sussex County Council.
Parents should keep the Admissions Team informed of any changes to their circumstances once an application has been made.
Please note that visits to the academy do not form part of the process of deciding which children are to be offered a place at the academy.
The WSCC admissions team will confirm a young person’s place with parents or carers and with the academy. A senior member of the Warden Park staff will then contact parents or carers as soon as is practicable to make the necessary arrangements to enrol the young person at Warden Park.
Parents of children with disabilities or Statements of Special Educational Need should contact us when their children are in Year 4 of primary school.
Further general information on admissions and appeals, can be obtained from www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions
Once your son or daughter’s place is confirmed, we will then contact you.
How to apply for a place
Warden Park Secondary Academy is a significantly over-subscribed school demonstrating the high regard with which it is held in the local community. We have 300 places available in Year 7 each year. We welcome all students, including those with particular gifts and talents or with Additional Educational Needs as long as they will benefit from a mainstream education and will contribute to the development and well being of the academy community. The Academy’s catchment area will remain as agreed with the Local Authority in 2012.
We welcome the opportunity of meeting you and believe you will find many reasons for choosing Warden Park for your child. See below for information on tours throughout the year. In year admission enquiries should be directed to: Mr M Sorrell, Deputy Headteacher msorrell@wardenpark.co.uk
Information on availability of places in current Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 (including waiting list information) can be obtained from West Sussex County Council, Pupil Admissions on Telephone Number: 033 301 42903 or admissions.north@westsussex.gov.uk Catchment maps can be obtained from the Pupil Admissions Office of the Local Authority Contact Pupil Admissions.