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catchment.school

Balfour Junior School Catchment Area

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

Balfour Junior School is an academy converter primary school in Chatham, Medway , serving pupils aged 7-11, with 480 pupils, and a capacity of 480 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

7-11

Age range

480

Pupils

480

Capacity

100%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2015

Balfour Junior School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Balfour Junior School?

The catchment area for Balfour Junior School is the geographic zone Medway 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. Medway publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Balfour Junior School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Medway. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Currently oversubscribed: 480 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 480 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Medway publishes the 2027 Balfour Junior School numbers →

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

Find Medway catchment area documents →

Balfour Junior School: at or above its 480 place limit

Balfour Junior School has a published admission number of 480 places. 480 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 100%. The school is at or above its published limit of 480 places. Medway 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. 31% of pupils at Balfour Junior School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Medway.

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

Medway 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. Find Medway school admissions →

Balfour Junior School: School Information

Full address
Balfour Road, Chatham, ME4 6QX
Local authority
Medway
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
7-11 years
Free school meals
31% of pupils
DfE URN
143880

Other Primary Schools in Chatham

If Balfour Junior School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Chatham are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Balfour Junior 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: Balfour Junior School

What is the catchment area for Balfour Junior School?

The catchment area for Balfour Junior School is the geographic zone Medway 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. Medway publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Balfour Junior School oversubscribed?

Yes, Balfour Junior School currently has 480 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 480 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Balfour Junior School?

Admission to Balfour Junior School is managed by Medway. 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 Balfour Junior School cover?

Balfour Junior School is a primary school in Chatham, Medway, serving pupils aged 7-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Balfour Junior School?

Balfour Junior School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2015. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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