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catchment.school

Cowley Academy Catchment Area

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

Cowley Academy is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Spalding, Lincolnshire , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 627 pupils, and a capacity of 650 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

627

Pupils

650

Capacity

96%

Fill rate

Inadequate

Ofsted 2022

Cowley Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Cowley Academy?

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

As an academy, Cowley Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Lincolnshire. 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: 96% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Cowley Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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

Find Lincolnshire catchment area documents →

Cowley Academy: 650 places, 96% filled: nearing capacity

Cowley Academy has a published admission number of 650 places. 627 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 96%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 650, Lincolnshire'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. 35.6% of pupils at Cowley Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Lincolnshire.

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

Lincolnshire 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. Lincolnshire Council school admissions (official) →

Cowley Academy: School Information

Full address
School Lane, Spalding, PE11 4TF
Local authority
Lincolnshire
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Free school meals
35.6% of pupils
DfE URN
149436

Other Secondary Schools in Spalding

If Cowley Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Spalding are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Cowley 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Cowley Academy

What is the catchment area for Cowley Academy?

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

Is Cowley Academy oversubscribed?

Cowley Academy is operating close to its capacity of 650 places (96% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Cowley Academy?

Admission to Cowley Academy is managed by Lincolnshire. 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 Cowley Academy cover?

Cowley Academy is a secondary school in Spalding, Lincolnshire, 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 Cowley Academy?

Cowley Academy was rated Inadequate by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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