Chichester Free School is an all-through mainstream school in Chichester, West Sussex, for children and young people aged 4 to 19. In January 2026, 157 of its 1,118 pupils (14%) were getting SEN support and 23 (2.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–19
- 1,118 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in West Sussex.
14% get SEN support
157 of 1,118 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.1% have an EHC plan
23 of 1,118 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia41
- Speech, language and communication36
- Social, emotional and mental health23
- Moderate learning difficulty17
- Autism16
- Physical disability5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 4 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,118 (places for 1,020)
- Headteacher
- Mr James Garner (Principal)
- Part of
- Sussex Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 14.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 139668
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask West Sussex council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, May 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Hunston Road, Chichester, PO20 1NP
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Chichester Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–5 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Portfield Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.4 miles
- St Anthony's School Special school · Ages 4–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.9 miles
- Fordwater School, Chichester Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 2.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- North Mundham Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 6.8%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.5 miles
- Kingsham Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 10.4%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.5 miles
- Chichester High School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 16.7%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in West Sussex SEND schools in West Sussex
Questions about Chichester Free School
How many pupils at Chichester Free School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 157 of the 1,118 pupils (14%) were getting SEN support and 23 (2.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Chichester Free School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (41 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (36 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (23 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Chichester Free School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Chichester Free School?
Through West Sussex council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Chichester Free School?
You can ask for Chichester Free School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Chichester Free School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Chichester Nursery School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is Chichester Free School?
Hunston Road, Chichester, PO20 1NP, in West Sussex.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.