Skip to content
A free, independent guide for parents - updated each admissions cycle. 26,506 schools · England & Wales
catchment.school

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery Catchment Area

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

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery is an academy sponsor led primary school in Harlow, Essex , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 459 pupils, and a capacity of 468 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

3-11

Age range

459

Pupils

468

Capacity

98%

Fill rate

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery?

The catchment area for Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery 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 siblings. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Essex. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 98% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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 →

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery: 468 places, 98% filled: nearing capacity

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery has a published admission number of 468 places. 459 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 98%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 468, Essex'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. 51.2% of pupils at Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Harlow.

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) →

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery: School Information

Full address
Cooks Spinney, Harlow, CM20 3BW
Local authority
Essex
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
3-11 years
Free school meals
51.2% of pupils
DfE URN
140024

Other Primary Schools in Harlow

If Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Harlow are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery 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: Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery

What is the catchment area for Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery?

The catchment area for Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery 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 siblings. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery oversubscribed?

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery is operating close to its capacity of 468 places (98% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery?

Admission to Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery is managed by Essex. 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 Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery cover?

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery is a primary school in Harlow, Essex, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

Get admissions updates by email

Join parents who get catchment boundary changes and key admissions dates - free, once per term.

No spam. Unsubscribe any time.