Admissions and how to apply

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If you have a child starting school in September 2023, please come and take a look at our school. To arrange a visit, please telephone our school office: 01424 752266
Closing date for applications to our September 2023 reception classes is 15th January 2023.
How to Apply
The school will admit 60 reception year students each September.
Admissions are managed through East Sussex County Council school admissions team.
To apply for a place for your child to join Ark Little Ridge in September 2023 you must apply through the East Sussex County Council website.
For more information about the admissions process, including key dates, please see the East Sussex website here.
Please note that admissions for entry into Reception class 2023 open online from 12 September 2022 and close on 15 January 2023.
Please contact our Admissions Officer, Mrs E Harrison, on e.harrison@arklittleridgeprimary.org if you have any queries.
Application timetable for September 2023 entry:
Closing date for primary school applications is 15 January 2022
National Allocation Day is 17 April 2023
Appeal hearings take place June - July 2023
Ark Network Appeals Timetable - will be published when known.
If you have any questions about the school, the admissions process, or want to arrange a visit, then please contact us.
In-year admissions
In-year admissions are managed through East Sussex County Council, please see their website here. If you would like to visit the academy please contact our Admissions Officer, Mrs E Harrison, on e.harrison@arklittleridgeprimary.org, who will be happy to meet you.
Applications made to any year group outside the main admissions round (In-Year admissions) should be made to East Sussex County Council. Apply for a place during the school year | East Sussex County Council
Parents/carers will be informed of the outcome of their application within 15 school days.
If a place is refused the child will be added to the waiting list, the position on the waiting list will be determined according to the oversubscription criteria in the School’s Admissions Policy.
If refused a place, the parent/carer has the right to appeal the decision.
Guidance on Infant class size appeals.pdf
If you wish to appeal, please click here for the appeal form
For primary appeals, please first read this guidance about infant class size appeals
Appeal panel hearings will take place within 30 school days of receipt of the appeal. Parents/carers will be notified of their appeal hearing date by the independent appeal panel clerk.
Admissions Criteria
Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy is a non-selective school for local children. If the school is oversubscribed, priority will be given to students with statements of special educational needs, where the academy is named on the statement. The remaining places will then be offered in the following order of priority:
Looked After Children and all previously Looked After Children
Children of staff of the school where there is a demonstrable skill shortage
Children who have a sibling who already attends the school and who will continue to do so on the date of admission (for this purpose “sibling” means a whole, half or step-brother or -sister resident at the same address)
Children of staff of the school (where there is no skill shortage)
Children who live in the relevant East Sussex defined community area, prioritised according to the measure used by East Sussex Council
The remaining places will be allocated to children who live in the relevant East Sussex defined community area, prioritised according to the measure used by East Sussex Council
For full details, please see the admissions policies above.
Starting at the school in September 2022?
Ark Little Ridge Admission Policy 2023-24
Ark Little Ridge Admission Policy 2022-23
Ark Little Ridge Admission Policy 2020-21.pdf
Ark Little Ridge Admission Policy 2021-22
Our open days for our September 2023 entry will be published in the Autumn term, after the summer break.
Ark Little Ridge Admission Policy 2023-24
Consultation briefing note_Little Ridge.docx
Tel: 01424 752266 or email: info@arklittleridgeprimary.org