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Chichester Free School

Chichester, PO20 1NPSecondaryAges 4–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2024
Progress 8
0.00
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
102 1st-choice / 98 places
Ranking
#1,506
of 3,141 nationally

About Chichester Free School

Chichester Free School is a mixed, all-through state school in West Sussex that currently teaches 1,078 pupils, slightly above its official capacity of 1,020. The school serves a notably diverse intake for the area: 14.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is higher than the national average of around 13% and suggests the school draws from a wider socioeconomic range than many of its local peers. Demand is exceptionally strong — for entry in 2025/26, the school received 521 applications for just 98 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 5.32. Of those applicants, 102 put the school as their first preference, and 79 first-preference offers were made. That level of competition places it among the most sought-after secondaries in Chichester, and it’s worth noting that the nearest Outstanding-rated school, Bishop Luffa School, is only 2.7 km away, so families are actively choosing Chichester Free School over a higher-rated neighbour.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range4 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressHunston Road, Chichester, Chichester, PO20 1NP
HeadteacherLouise New
Local AuthorityWest Sussex
Number of Pupils1,078
Free School Meals (FSM)14.5%
School Capacity1,078 / 1,020 (106% full)

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

8 May 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 10 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
ICT SuitePlaying FieldsGymnasiumTennis CourtsArt StudiosSwimming PoolAstro TurfDining Hall

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

BadmintonSwimmingRowingHockeyGymnasticsTennisCross CountryCricketNetball

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubOrchestraDramaGardeningCodingEco ClubArt ClubYoung Enterprise

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:30

Breakfast club

07:30-08:50

After-school care

15:30-18:00

Source: chichesterfreeschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Chichester Free School

Chichester Free School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.