Skip to content
A free, independent guide for parents - updated each admissions cycle. 26,506 schools · England & Wales
catchment.school

Bacup Thorn Primary School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Bacup Thorn Primary School is a community primary school in Bacup, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 4-11, with 274 pupils, and a capacity of 276 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

4-11

Age range

274

Pupils

276

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2023

Bacup Thorn Primary School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Bacup Thorn Primary School?

The catchment area for Bacup Thorn Primary School is the geographic zone Lancashire uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

The catchment area for Bacup Thorn Primary School is set by Lancashire and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.

Operating near capacity: 99% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Bacup Thorn Primary School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Lancashire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Lancashire catchment area documents →

Bacup Thorn Primary School: 276 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

Bacup Thorn Primary School has a published admission number of 276 places. 274 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 276, Lancashire's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 36.9% of pupils at Bacup Thorn Primary School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Lancashire.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Lancashire publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Lancashire Council school admissions (official) →

Bacup Thorn Primary School: School Information

Full address
Cowtoot Lane, Bacup, OL13 8EF
Local authority
Lancashire
School type
Community school
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
4-11 years
Free school meals
36.9% of pupils
DfE URN
119193

Other Primary Schools in Bacup

If Bacup Thorn Primary School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Bacup are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Bacup Thorn Primary School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bacup Thorn Primary School

What is the catchment area for Bacup Thorn Primary School?

The catchment area for Bacup Thorn Primary School is the geographic zone Lancashire uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Bacup Thorn Primary School oversubscribed?

Bacup Thorn Primary School is operating close to its capacity of 276 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Bacup Thorn Primary School?

Admission to Bacup Thorn Primary School is managed by Lancashire. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Bacup Thorn Primary School cover?

Bacup Thorn Primary School is a primary school in Bacup, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 4-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Bacup Thorn Primary School?

Bacup Thorn Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

Get admissions updates by email

Join parents who get catchment boundary changes and key admissions dates - free, once per term.

No spam. Unsubscribe any time.