Admissions FAQ

Our Published Admissions Numbers (PAN) are: 

• Year 7:   90 places  
• Reception: 60 places 

Gildredge House is its own Admissions Authority, and the 27-28 admissions criteria are as follows (please see Admissions Policy for full description): 

1. Looked after and previously looked after children 
2. Children of school staff 
3. Children with siblings at the school  
   
   After places are allocated in these higher categories then:
    
4. 60% of remaining places go to the children who live closest to the school, using a straight-line distance measurement calculated by the Local Authority who use a geographical system which measures the distance between a unique address point in your property against a unique address point within the school.
   
   This fulfils the school’s role as a community hub. 
   
   
5. 40% of remaining places are then allocated by random allocation (lottery) to children who live within the electoral divisions of Eastbourne, Polegate, Willingdon, Stone Cross, Pevensey and East Dean. 
    
   This provides fair and open access to the wider community and gives families who might live further away and would not get a place by distance alone a genuine chance of a place at Gildredge House. 
   

In the unlikely event that the school cannot allocate all its places under the above criteria then places will be allocated to ‘Other Children’ (criterion 6) who live outside of the electoral divisions stated above. 

You can read the full Admissions Policy 2027-28 for the exact criteria and explanation of how places are offered.  

The maps below show the location of children offered a Reception or Year 7 place in previous admissions rounds. 

Please note that, following consultation in 2026, the electoral divisions of Stone Cross and Pevensey are now included in Criteria 5 (above).  

Allocations for Admissions in 2024-2026

RECEPTION 

Community - 60% (see Criteria 4 above)	Random Allocation - 40% (see Criteria 5 above)

Key:
2024-25: Blue
2025-26: Green
2026-27: Orange

YEAR 7 

Community - 60% (see Criteria 4 above)	Random Allocation - 40% (see Criteria 5 above)

Key:
2024-25: Blue
2025-26: Green
2026-27: Orange

The tables below show the allocation of Reception and Year 7 places under each criterion in previous admissions rounds.  

Please note that, for applications for the 2027/28 academic year onwards, Criterion 2 (children whose parents are founders at Gildredge House) has been removed. In addition, Stone Cross and Pevensey are now included alongside Eastbourne, Polegate, Willingdon and East Dean within the 40% random allocation criterion (now Criterion 5, as listed above and in the Admissions Policy 2027-28).  

RECEPTION

YEAR 7

When ranking applications, schools are not privy to whether an application is first, second or third preference.

When allocating places, the aim of the Local Authority is to be able to allocate an applicant their highest preference school where there is availability.

Parents are encouraged to list three schools in their order of preference. If Gildredge House is your preferred school, you may choose to list it as your first preference. Listing a school as a first preference does not guarantee that a place will be allocated.

No. Where applicants have been unsuccessful in being allocated their first-preference school, they may be allocated their 2nd or 3rd preference school, depending on availability. 

When allocating places, the Local Authority aims to allocate applicants their highest-preference school wherever places are available. 

Applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining a place at any of their preferred schools will be ‘placed’ at a school where there is availability. Late applications submitted after the deadline date will only be considered after all other on-time applications have been allocated. 

Applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining a place at any of their preferred schools can apply for the Waiting List of that school. Parents can only apply for the Waiting List of schools named on their Common Application Form. 

Applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining a place at any of their preferred schools have the right to lodge an appeal. However, for Reception places, it is worth considering the Infant Class Size Legislation rules before doing so. 

The school publishes details of admissions and appeals on the school’s website. 

Therefore, in the four admissions rounds shown above, only two secondary appeals were successful. 

The Admissions Policy 2027-28 covers the school’s admissions arrangements in detail.  
If you have any further questions or require any support with making your application, please contact: 

Gildredge House Admissions Manager
01323 400650
admissions@gildredgehouse.org.uk

or the  

East Sussex County Council Admissions Team
0300 330 9472
admissions@eastsussex.gov.uk