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catchment.school

Cheney School Catchment Area

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

Cheney School is an academy converter secondary school in Oxford, Oxfordshire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1704 pupils, and a capacity of 1615 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,704

Pupils

1,615

Capacity

106%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2015

Cheney School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Cheney School?

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

As an academy, Cheney School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Oxfordshire. 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: 1704 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1615 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 Oxfordshire publishes the 2027 Cheney School numbers →

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

Find Oxfordshire catchment area documents →

Cheney School: at or above its 1615 place limit

Cheney School has a published admission number of 1615 places. 1704 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 106%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1615 places. Oxfordshire 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. 26.2% of pupils at Cheney School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Oxfordshire.

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

Oxfordshire 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. Oxfordshire Council school admissions (official) →

Cheney School: School Information

Full address
Cheney Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7QH
Local authority
Oxfordshire
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
26.2% of pupils
DfE URN
139146

Other Secondary Schools in Oxford

If Cheney School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Oxford are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Cheney 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: Cheney School

What is the catchment area for Cheney School?

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

Is Cheney School oversubscribed?

Yes, Cheney School currently has 1704 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1615 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Cheney School?

Admission to Cheney School is managed by Oxfordshire. 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 Cheney School cover?

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

What is the Ofsted rating for Cheney School?

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

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