Blackpool School Catchment Areas

Blackpool is a compact coastal authority in Lancashire with 51 state schools – 30 primary and 6 secondary – primarily in and around the resort town and neighbouring Bispham. Thirty-six of the 51 schools hold academy status, and 14 apply religious criteria as part of their oversubscription policies.

Nine of the 46 schools with published capacity figures are currently at or above their admission number, putting moderate pressure on places in some parts of the authority. Blackpool's schools serve a community with significant levels of deprivation, and performance data should be read alongside the area's social context. Of the schools with a current Ofsted inspection, 7 are rated Good or Outstanding – a lower proportion than many comparable authorities, and one that the council has been working to improve.

Catchment boundaries are co-ordinated by Blackpool Council and reviewed each year as part of the annual admissions round. Because Blackpool is a relatively small authority, most families have a limited number of secondary schools to choose from, and catchment distance is often the decisive factor in oversubscription. Always confirm which catchment zone your address falls into before the January application deadline.