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catchment.school

Cottenham Village College Catchment Area

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

Cottenham Village College is an academy converter secondary school in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 877 pupils, and a capacity of 900 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

877

Pupils

900

Capacity

97%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2023

Cottenham Village College Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Cottenham Village College?

The catchment area for Cottenham Village College is the geographic zone Cambridgeshire 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. Cambridgeshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Cottenham Village College sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Cambridgeshire. 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: 97% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Cottenham Village College goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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

Find Cambridgeshire catchment area documents →

Cottenham Village College: 900 places, 97% filled: nearing capacity

Cottenham Village College has a published admission number of 900 places. 877 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 97%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 900, Cambridgeshire'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. 17.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Cambridge.

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

Cambridgeshire 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. Cambridgeshire Council school admissions (official) →

Cottenham Village College: School Information

Full address
High Street, Cottenham, Cambridge, CB24 8UA
Local authority
Cambridgeshire
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
17.2% of pupils
DfE URN
137434

Other Secondary Schools in Cambridge

If Cottenham Village College is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Cambridge are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Cottenham Village 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: Cottenham Village College

What is the catchment area for Cottenham Village College?

The catchment area for Cottenham Village College is the geographic zone Cambridgeshire 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. Cambridgeshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Cottenham Village College oversubscribed?

Cottenham Village College is operating close to its capacity of 900 places (97% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Cottenham Village College?

Admission to Cottenham Village College is managed by Cambridgeshire. 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 Cottenham Village College cover?

Cottenham Village College is a secondary school in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, 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 Cottenham Village College?

Cottenham Village College was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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