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Carmel College Catchment Area

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

Carmel College is an academy converter secondary school in Darlington , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1365 pupils, and a capacity of 1382 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-18

Age range

1,365

Pupils

1,382

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Carmel College Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Carmel College?

The catchment area for Carmel College is the geographic zone Darlington 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Darlington publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to Carmel College is managed by Darlington 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.

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 Carmel College goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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

Find Darlington catchment area documents →

Carmel College: 1382 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

Carmel College has a published admission number of 1382 places. 1365 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 1382, Darlington'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. 17.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Darlington.

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

Darlington 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 Darlington school admissions →

Carmel College: School Information

Full address
The Headlands, Darlington, DL3 8RW
Local authority
Darlington
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
17.4% of pupils
DfE URN
137622

Other Secondary Schools in Darlington

If Carmel College is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Darlington are the next closest alternatives.

Other Roman Catholic Schools in Darlington

Carmel College shares its religious character with these Roman Catholic schools across Darlington. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Carmel College 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: Carmel College

What is the catchment area for Carmel College?

The catchment area for Carmel College is the geographic zone Darlington 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Darlington publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Carmel College oversubscribed?

Carmel College is operating close to its capacity of 1382 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Carmel College?

Carmel College uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Darlington before each admissions cycle.

What age range does Carmel College cover?

Carmel College is a secondary school in Darlington, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

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