Proposed changes to the Kilnwood Vale school catchment area & consultation

Crest Nicholson request that residents take the time to review the County Council’s proposed catchment area changes to schools and respond to the County Council’s consultation which runs to 31st January 2020. Further detail is contained below.

On 16 December 2019 West Sussex County Council announced a consultation of school admission arrangements in 2021/2022. As part of the consultation the county council is proposing changes to the catchment areas for both primary and secondary school-aged children living in Kilnwood Vale.

Currently, Kilnwood Vale is part of the catchment area for Waterfield Primary School and Ifield Community College. In its proposal for school admission arrangements, the county council explains:

“The reason this decision was made was because families were moving into the Kilnwood Vale development before the proposed new Primary School was built and there were concerns that there would be insufficient capacity in Colgate Primary School to meet the demand for places within the catchment. The catchment area for secondary aged pupils was also changed to ensure continuity between primary and secondary schools. The intention was to review this arrangement once the new primary school was built on Kilnwood Vale.”

With Kilnwood Vale Primary School now open, we are pleased to announce that the catchment areas are being reviewed. The proposal states:

“The current admission arrangements for the school give priority to the children living on the Kilnwood Vale development whilst remaining in the catchment area for Waterfield Primary School. The proposal now is to create a separate catchment area for Kilnwood Vale Primary School and move the development back into the catchment area for Millais School/The Forest School for secondary aged pupils.

“Part of the decision to make these changes is the arrival of the new Bohunt Horsham School which opened in temporary accommodation in Hurst Road, Horsham in September 2019 but is scheduled to move into its new permanent building in 2021.”

Further information about the consultation can be found here

Hannah Bellamy, Associate Director – Development at Crest Nicholson Strategic Projects, added:

“The proposed changes to the catchment area for Kilnwood Vale is positive news for residents. The schools within the newly proposed catchment area are very well regarded and will complement the work GLF Schools are doing to build an exceptional learning environment at the new Kilnwood Vale Primary School.

“We would encourage all Kilnwood Vale residents to take part in the consultation and provide their feedback.”

Click here to take part in the consultation

Or email your responses to admissions.north@westsussex.gov.uk

The deadline for participation is 31 January 2020.

In their most recent Ofsted inspections, Millais School was rated outstanding, and The Forest School good. Kilnwood Vale Primary School, as it is very newly opened, has not yet had an Ofsted inspection but further information about the school can be found on its website: https://www.kilnwoodvaleschool.org/. The same applies to Bohunt Horsham School, with further information available here: https://www.bohunthorsham.com/