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Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Catchment Area

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

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a voluntary controlled primary school in Bishop's Stortford, Essex , serving pupils aged 4-11, with 97 pupils, and a capacity of 117 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby primary schools below.

4-11

Age range

97

Pupils

117

Capacity

83%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2017

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?

The catchment area for Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is the geographic zone Essex 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is managed by Essex and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.

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

Find Essex catchment area documents →

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School: 117 places, 83% filled: places available

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has a published admission number of 117 places. 97 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 83%. At 83% full, the school currently has headroom below its 117 place limit. Catchment distance criteria still apply when the school is oversubscribed, but at current demand levels, places have been available for applicants outside the immediate catchment area.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 9.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Bishop's Stortford.

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

Essex 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. Essex Council school admissions (official) →

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School: School Information

Full address
Birchwood, Birchanger, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 5QL
Local authority
Essex
School type
Voluntary controlled school
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
4-11 years
Religious character
Church of England
Free school meals
9.3% of pupils
DfE URN
115127

Other Primary Schools in Bishop's Stortford

If Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Bishop's Stortford are the next closest alternatives.

Other Church of England Schools in Essex

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School shares its religious character with these Church of England schools across Essex. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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: Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

What is the catchment area for Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?

The catchment area for Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is the geographic zone Essex 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has a capacity of 117 places and currently has 97 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Essex.

What is the admissions policy for Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Essex before each admissions cycle.

What age range does Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School cover?

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school in Bishop's Stortford, Essex, 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 Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2017. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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