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catchment.school

Firwood High School Catchment Area

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

Firwood High School is an academy special converter not applicable school in Bolton , serving pupils aged 11-19, with 230 pupils, and a capacity of 150 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-19

Age range

230

Pupils

150

Capacity

153%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2012

Firwood High School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Firwood High School?

The catchment area for Firwood High School is the geographic zone Bolton 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. 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, Firwood High School 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.

Currently oversubscribed: 230 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 150 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

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 Firwood High School 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 →

Firwood High School: heavily oversubscribed at 153% capacity

Firwood High School has a published admission number of 150 places. 230 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 153%. At 153% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Bolton 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. 53.4% of pupils at Firwood High School 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 →

Firwood High School: School Information

Full address
Stitch-MI Lane, Bolton, BL2 4HU
Local authority
Bolton
School type
Academy special converter
Phase of education
Not applicable
Age range
11-19 years
Free school meals
53.4% of pupils
DfE URN
146410

Other Not applicable Schools in Bolton

If Firwood High School is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Bolton are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest not applicable schools by distance

These are the not applicable schools closest to Firwood High 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Firwood High School

What is the catchment area for Firwood High School?

The catchment area for Firwood High School is the geographic zone Bolton 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. Bolton publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Firwood High School oversubscribed?

Yes, Firwood High School currently has 230 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 150 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Firwood High School?

Admission to Firwood High School 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 Firwood High School cover?

Firwood High School is a not applicable school in Bolton, 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 Firwood High School?

Firwood High School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2012. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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