Essa Academy Catchment Area
Essa Academy is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Bolton , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1077 pupils, and a capacity of 990 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-16
Age range
1,077
Pupils
990
Capacity
109%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2021
Essa Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Essa Academy?
The catchment area for Essa Academy is the geographic zone Bolton 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. Bolton publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Essa Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bolton. 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 Bolton publishes the 2027 Essa Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bolton before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Bolton catchment area documents →Essa Academy: at or above its 990 place limit
Essa Academy has a published admission number of 990 places. 1077 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 109%. The school is at or above its published limit of 990 places. Bolton allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 44.8% of pupils at Essa Academy 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 Bolton.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Bolton 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 Bolton school admissions →
Essa Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, BL3 3HH
- Local authority
- Bolton
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 44.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 135770
Other Secondary Schools in Bolton
If Essa Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Bolton are the next closest alternatives.
Westhoughton High School Catchment Area
Community school · BL5 3BZ
Turton School Catchment Area
Community school · BL7 9LT
St Joseph's RC High School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BL6 6HW
Thornleigh Salesian College Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BL1 6PQ
Ladybridge High School Catchment Area
Community school · BL3 4NG
Kearsley Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · BL4 8HY
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Essa 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Essa Academy
What is the catchment area for Essa Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Essa Academy is the geographic zone Bolton 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. Bolton publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Essa Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Essa Academy currently has 1077 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 990 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Essa Academy? ▾
Admission to Essa Academy is managed by Bolton. 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 Essa Academy cover? ▾
Essa Academy is a secondary school in Bolton, 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 Essa Academy? ▾
Essa Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2021. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.