Cranborne Middle School Catchment Area
Cranborne Middle School is a community middle deemed secondary school in Wimborne, Dorset , serving pupils aged 9-13, with 306 pupils, and a capacity of 256 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
9-13
Age range
306
Pupils
256
Capacity
120%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2019
Cranborne Middle School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Cranborne Middle School?
The catchment area for Cranborne Middle School is the geographic zone Dorset uses to prioritise admissions when this middle deemed 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. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
The catchment area for Cranborne Middle School is set by Dorset and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Dorset publishes the 2027 Cranborne Middle School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Dorset before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Dorset catchment area documents →Cranborne Middle School: heavily oversubscribed at 120% capacity
Cranborne Middle School has a published admission number of 256 places. 306 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 120%. At 120% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Dorset allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 17% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Wimborne.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Dorset 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. Dorset Council school admissions (official) →
Cranborne Middle School: School Information
- Full address
- Cranborne, Wimborne, BH21 5RP
- Local authority
- Dorset
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Middle deemed secondary
- Age range
- 9-13 years
- Free school meals
- 17% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 113853
Other Middle deemed secondary Schools in Wimborne
If Cranborne Middle School is oversubscribed, these middle deemed secondary schools in Wimborne are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest middle deemed secondary schools by distance
These are the middle deemed secondary schools closest to Cranborne Middle 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.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Cranborne Middle School
What is the catchment area for Cranborne Middle School? ▾
The catchment area for Cranborne Middle School is the geographic zone Dorset uses to prioritise admissions when this middle deemed 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. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Cranborne Middle School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Cranborne Middle School currently has 306 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 256 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Cranborne Middle School? ▾
Admission to Cranborne Middle School is managed by Dorset. 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 Cranborne Middle School cover? ▾
Cranborne Middle School is a middle deemed secondary school in Wimborne, Dorset, serving pupils aged 9-13. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Cranborne Middle School? ▾
Cranborne Middle School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2019. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.