Fred Nicholson School Catchment Area
Fred Nicholson School is a foundation special not applicable school in Dereham, Norfolk , serving pupils aged 3-19, with 197 pupils, and a capacity of 174 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-19
Age range
197
Pupils
174
Capacity
113%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2015
Fred Nicholson School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Fred Nicholson School?
The catchment area for Fred Nicholson School is the geographic zone Norfolk 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. Norfolk 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 Fred Nicholson School is set by Norfolk and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
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Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Norfolk publishes the 2027 Fred Nicholson School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Norfolk before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Norfolk catchment area documents →Fred Nicholson School: heavily oversubscribed at 113% capacity
Fred Nicholson School has a published admission number of 174 places. 197 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 113%. At 113% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Norfolk 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. 55.4% of pupils at Fred Nicholson 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 Dereham.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Norfolk 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 Norfolk school admissions →
Fred Nicholson School: School Information
- Full address
- Westfield Road, Toftwood, Dereham, NR19 1JB
- Local authority
- Norfolk
- School type
- Foundation special school
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 3-19 years
- Free school meals
- 55.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 121256
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Fred Nicholson 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Fred Nicholson School
What is the catchment area for Fred Nicholson School? ▾
The catchment area for Fred Nicholson School is the geographic zone Norfolk 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. Norfolk publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Fred Nicholson School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Fred Nicholson School currently has 197 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 174 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Fred Nicholson School? ▾
Admission to Fred Nicholson School is managed by Norfolk. 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 Fred Nicholson School cover? ▾
Fred Nicholson School is a not applicable school in Dereham, Norfolk, serving pupils aged 3-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Fred Nicholson School? ▾
Fred Nicholson School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2015. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.