Elms Bank Catchment Area
Elms Bank is an academy special converter not applicable school in Bury , serving pupils aged 11-19, with 344 pupils, and a capacity of 221 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-19
Age range
344
Pupils
221
Capacity
156%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2023
Elms Bank Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Elms Bank?
The catchment area for Elms Bank is the geographic zone Bury uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable 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. Bury publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Elms Bank sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bury. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Bury publishes the 2027 Elms Bank numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bury before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Bury catchment area documents →Elms Bank: heavily oversubscribed at 156% capacity
Elms Bank has a published admission number of 221 places. 344 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 156%. At 156% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Bury 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. 49.4% of pupils at Elms Bank 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 Bury.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Bury 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. Find Bury school admissions →
Elms Bank: School Information
- Full address
- Ripon Avenue, Whitefield, Bury, M45 8PJ
- Local authority
- Bury
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 11-19 years
- Free school meals
- 49.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 146891
Other Not applicable Schools in Bury
If Elms Bank is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Bury are the next closest alternatives.
Bury Grammar Schools Catchment Area
Other independent school · BL9 0HN
Millwood Primary Special School Catchment Area
Community special school · M26 3BW
Rossendale School Catchment Area
Other independent special school · BL0 0RT
Forestwood School Catchment Area
Other independent special school · BL8 2BS
Brookhaven School Catchment Area
Free schools special · BL9 8LP
Ash Grove School Catchment Area
Academy alternative provision sponsor led · BL9 7PZ
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Elms Bank 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Elms Bank
What is the catchment area for Elms Bank? ▾
The catchment area for Elms Bank is the geographic zone Bury uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable 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. Bury publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Elms Bank oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Elms Bank currently has 344 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 221 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Elms Bank? ▾
Admission to Elms Bank is managed by Bury. 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 Elms Bank cover? ▾
Elms Bank is a not applicable school in Bury, serving pupils aged 11-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Elms Bank? ▾
Elms Bank was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.