Balcarras School Catchment Area
Balcarras School is an academy converter secondary school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1429 pupils, and a capacity of 1359 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-18
Age range
1,429
Pupils
1,359
Capacity
105%
Fill rate
Balcarras School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Balcarras School?
The catchment area for Balcarras School is the geographic zone Gloucestershire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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. Gloucestershire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Balcarras School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Gloucestershire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Gloucestershire publishes the 2027 Balcarras School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Gloucestershire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Gloucestershire catchment area documents →Balcarras School: at or above its 1359 place limit
Balcarras School has a published admission number of 1359 places. 1429 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 105%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1359 places. Gloucestershire allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 6.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Cheltenham.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Gloucestershire 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. Gloucestershire Council school admissions (official) →
Balcarras School: School Information
- Full address
- East End Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL53 8QF
- Local authority
- Gloucestershire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 6.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 136474
Other Secondary Schools in Cheltenham
If Balcarras School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Cheltenham are the next closest alternatives.
Pittville School Catchment Area
Foundation school · GL52 3JD
All Saints' Academy, Cheltenham Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · GL51 0WH
The Cotswold Academy Catchment Area
Academy converter · GL54 2BD
Pate's Grammar School Catchment Area
Academy converter · GL51 0HG
Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre Catchment Area
Academy converter · GL51 3EF
Winchcombe School Catchment Area
Academy converter · GL54 5LB
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Balcarras 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Balcarras School
What is the catchment area for Balcarras School? ▾
The catchment area for Balcarras School is the geographic zone Gloucestershire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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. Gloucestershire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Balcarras School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Balcarras School currently has 1429 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1359 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Balcarras School? ▾
Admission to Balcarras School is managed by Gloucestershire. 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 Balcarras School cover? ▾
Balcarras School is a secondary school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.