About CFS

Chichester Free School (CFS) is a state-funded, all-through school, established in response to real demand within the local area for a greater variety of schools. CFS is now in its second decade and is fully established in our state-of-the-art facilities on the Carmelite Convent Site on the Hunston Road in the south of Chichester. Our PAN is 60 in primary, and 120 in Secondary; in most year groups we are oversubscribed with waiting lists.  

As a Free School, we are the same as any other academy; we are both held and hold ourselves to the same exacting and rigorous standards as all state-funded schools. We follow the national curriculum, and are proud of our ambitious, inclusive and varied curriculum offer. Our pupils engage with SATs and GCSE assessments. We were inspected by Ofsted in May 2024, receiving a strong ‘Good’ overall, and Outstanding in Personal Development. As a school we continue to strive for excellence in all areas, and to achieve above average outcomes in both phases.

CFS is open to pupils of all abilities. We do not have a catchment area, thus ensuring the School is fully inclusive. We take part in the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) admissions process for our Reception and Year 7 intake and so parents apply for places for their child in the same way as any other local state school for those year groups.  However, we manage our own in year admissions for all other year groups and applications should be made directly to CFS.

CFS is a member of Sussex Learning Trust, a family of like-minded schools that put children at the forefront of everything we do. Sussex Learning Trust successfully manages and develops six academies across West Sussex, working collectively to provide the highest possible educational opportunities for children and young people. Through a strong network of schools committed to partnership and collaboration, the Trust plays an integral role in strengthening educational outcomes for pupils and students across the region.

Trust Information

Chief Executive Officer: Jonathan Morris

Address: Broad Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England, RH17 5DP

Company Number: 07705100

To find out more about Sussex Learning Trust, please visit www.sussexlearningtrust.co.uk or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. You can also contact us by calling 01444 457881 or by emailing [email protected].