We are an ‘open’ school and warmly invite prospective parents and students to view the College during a normal working day.

Who to Contact

For Year 6 looking to start the following September, please attend our Open Evening in September and register for a tour in Term 1.

For Years 7 to 11:
Please first contact by phone Toni Fletcher, Executive Assistant to the Principal, who will gather the necessary details and pass them to the appropriate colleague.

For Year 12: Please contact Ben McLachlan, Head of Sixth Form.

Uckfield College Reception: 01825 764844

For more information and to apply, please visit the East Sussex County Council website.

 

Admissions to Uckfield College are determined in line with East Sussex County Council policy.  Please see the ESCC website: Admission Arrangements for full details.  The arrangements for the admission of children to this school at age 11+ are made by the County Council.  East Sussex prefer for parents to apply for a school place online.

The College is committed to working with all young people in the area to provide an inclusive and comprehensive education for all.  Parents may find it helpful to know that, if there are insufficient places available to meet demand, these will be allocated in accordance with the list of priorities below.  

1. Looked after children and children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or subject to residence orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following being looked after. 

An explanation of who falls into this criterion can be found below in the definitions section.

2. Children who will have a brother or sister (sibling) at the school at the time of admission and who live at the same address, within the predefined community area*. 

An explanation of who falls into this criterion can be found below in the definitions section.

Details of the pre-defined community areas for each school can be found here:

Find my community area (secondary) | East Sussex County Council

Find my community area (primary and junior) | East Sussex County Council

3. Children of staff members contracted to work at the school in question where:

a) The member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made; and/or

b) The member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.

An explanation of who falls into this priority can be found below in the definitions section.

4. Other children living within a pre-defined community area

Each home address within the county falls within a community area although living within the community area does not guarantee a place. Details of the pre-defined community area for each school can be found here:

Find my community area (secondary) | East Sussex County Council

Find my community area (primary and junior) | East Sussex County Council

5. Children who will have a brother or sister (sibling) at the school at the time of admission who live at the same address, outside the predefined community area*.

An explanation of who falls into this criterion can be found below in the definitions section.

6. Other children living outside the pre-defined community area.

Tiebreaker

In the event of oversubscription within any category, place allocation will be decided by prioritising applications on the basis of home to school distance measured in a straight line (as the crow flies) from the address point of the family home to that of the school. Priority given to those whose homes are closest to the school. For split site schools, we will measure to the site where the child will attend for the majority of lessons at the point of entry.

In the event that applicants cannot be prioritised using the tie-breaker above because the distance measurements are the same, the Authority will use random allocation to decide which children will be offered the remaining places. This will be done electronically using the Authority’s admissions software.

 

Definitions

Children We Care For and previously looked after children

A ‘child we care for (CWCF)’ is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services function at the time of making an application to a school (see section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989). Children accommodated under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 are included in this priority.

Previously looked after children are children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a Child Arrangements Order or special guardianship order. This may include children previously in state care outside the UK.

Sibling

For admissions to community and voluntary controlled schools, children are siblings if they are full, half or adoptive, foster brother or sister living in the same household.

We do not include step-children for the purposes of school admissions i.e. two families coming together.

A child will be given sibling priority if they have a sibling on roll at the preferred school  and that sibling is still expected to be on roll at that school at the time of the  child’s admission.

For example, if you are applying for a place in September 2026, the sibling will need to be on roll for the 2026-27 school year and not due to leave in July 2026.

Twins and children from multiple births (all community and voluntary controlled schools).

Where the admission of both twins or all siblings from a multiple birth would cause the school to rise above its Planned Admission Number, both twins or all of the siblings will be admitted.

Children of staff definition:

A member of staff will be considered to be a child’s parent for the purpose of this criterion if they are living in the same family unit as the child at the same address and are:

• their mother or father;

• any other person who has parental responsibility, such as an adoptive parent, a special guardian or person named in a child arrangement order;

• any other person who does not have parental responsibility but otherwise has the care of the child, such as a foster carer.

For applications made as part of a normal intake, the length of employment will be considered as at the closing date for applications. For in-year applications and for the purpose of maintaining a waiting list, the length of employment will be considered as at the date the application is received.

To be considered under this category, applicants must indicate this in the reasons section of the application and supply an official letter/email from the headteacher/Chair of Governors of the school in question verifying that the parent with care qualifies under a) or b).

Applications for admission out of year group

Arrangements for requesting a delayed reception start can be found here: How to apply: deadlines, community areas | East Sussex County Council

Arrangements for requesting admission out of year group at other points in a child’s education can be found here:

How to apply: deadlines and community areas | East Sussex County Council

The closing date for applications to be returned is 31st October 2026.

It is vital that you do not miss this deadline.