Birches Head Academy Catchment Area
Birches Head Academy is an academy converter secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 953 pupils, and a capacity of 1040 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-16
Age range
953
Pupils
1,040
Capacity
92%
Fill rate
Inadequate
Ofsted 2023
Birches Head Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Birches Head Academy?
The catchment area for Birches Head Academy is the geographic zone Stoke-on-Trent 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. Stoke-on-Trent publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Birches Head Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Stoke-on-Trent. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Get an alert if Birches Head Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Stoke-on-Trent before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Stoke-on-Trent catchment area documents →Birches Head Academy: 1040 places, 92% filled: nearing capacity
Birches Head Academy has a published admission number of 1040 places. 953 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 92%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1040, Stoke-on-Trent'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. 36.6% of pupils at Birches Head Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Stoke-on-Trent.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent school admissions →
Birches Head Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Birches Head Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD
- Local authority
- Stoke-on-Trent
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 36.6% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 148220
Other Secondary Schools in Stoke-on-Trent
If Birches Head Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Stoke-on-Trent are the next closest alternatives.
Co-op Academy Stoke-On-Trent Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · ST6 4LD
Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · ST3 3JD
St Joseph's College Catchment Area
Academy converter · ST4 5NT
Discovery Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · ST2 0GA
St Peter's CofE Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · ST4 2RR
The Cheadle Academy Catchment Area
Academy converter · ST10 1LH
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Birches Head Academy 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.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Birches Head Academy
What is the catchment area for Birches Head Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Birches Head Academy is the geographic zone Stoke-on-Trent 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. Stoke-on-Trent publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Birches Head Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Birches Head Academy is operating close to its capacity of 1040 places (92% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Birches Head Academy? ▾
Admission to Birches Head Academy is managed by Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Birches Head Academy cover? ▾
Birches Head Academy is a secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Birches Head Academy? ▾
Birches Head Academy was rated Inadequate by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.