Gillingham School Catchment Area
Gillingham School is a voluntary controlled secondary school in Gillingham, Dorset , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1670 pupils, and a capacity of 1850 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-18
Age range
1,670
Pupils
1,850
Capacity
90%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2023
Gillingham School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Gillingham School?
The catchment area for Gillingham School is the geographic zone Dorset 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. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Secondary school places at Gillingham School are allocated by Dorset using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.
Get an alert if Gillingham School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
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 →Gillingham School: 1850 places, 90% filled: nearing capacity
Gillingham School has a published admission number of 1850 places. 1670 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 90%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1850, Dorset's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 19.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Gillingham.
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) →
Gillingham School: School Information
- Full address
- Hardings Lane, Gillingham, SP8 4QP
- Local authority
- Dorset
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 19.9% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 113882
Other Secondary Schools in Gillingham
If Gillingham School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Gillingham are the next closest alternatives.
Brompton Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · ME7 5HT
Rainham School for Girls Catchment Area
Academy converter · ME8 0BX
Rainham Mark Grammar School Catchment Area
Academy converter · ME8 7AJ
The Robert Napier School Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · ME7 2LX
The Howard School Catchment Area
Academy converter · ME8 0BX
Leigh Academy Rainham Catchment Area
Free schools · ME8 8GS
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Gillingham 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: Gillingham School
What is the catchment area for Gillingham School? ▾
The catchment area for Gillingham School is the geographic zone Dorset 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. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Gillingham School oversubscribed? ▾
Gillingham School is operating close to its capacity of 1850 places (90% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Gillingham School? ▾
Admission to Gillingham 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 Gillingham School cover? ▾
Gillingham School is a secondary school in Gillingham, Dorset, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Gillingham School? ▾
Gillingham School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.