Handford Hall Primary School Catchment Area
Handford Hall Primary School is an academy converter primary school in Ipswich, Suffolk , serving pupils aged 4-11, with 358 pupils, and a capacity of 315 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
4-11
Age range
358
Pupils
315
Capacity
114%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2023
Handford Hall Primary School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Handford Hall Primary School?
The catchment area for Handford Hall Primary School is the geographic zone Suffolk uses to prioritise admissions when this primary 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. Suffolk publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Handford Hall Primary School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Suffolk. 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 Suffolk publishes the 2027 Handford Hall Primary School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Suffolk before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Suffolk catchment area documents →Handford Hall Primary School: heavily oversubscribed at 114% capacity
Handford Hall Primary School has a published admission number of 315 places. 358 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 114%. At 114% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Suffolk 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. 33.8% of pupils at Handford Hall Primary School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Suffolk.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Suffolk 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. Suffolk Council school admissions (official) →
Handford Hall Primary School: School Information
- Full address
- 57 Gatacre Road, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ
- Local authority
- Suffolk
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 4-11 years
- Free school meals
- 33.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 144212
Other Primary Schools in Ipswich
If Handford Hall Primary School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Ipswich are the next closest alternatives.
Bildeston Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · IP7 7ES
Bucklesham Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · IP10 0AX
Copdock Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · IP8 3HY
Holbrook Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · IP9 2PZ
Heath Primary School, Kesgrave Catchment Area
Community school · IP5 1JG
Otley Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · IP6 9NT
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Handford Hall Primary 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: Handford Hall Primary School
What is the catchment area for Handford Hall Primary School? ▾
The catchment area for Handford Hall Primary School is the geographic zone Suffolk uses to prioritise admissions when this primary 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. Suffolk publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Handford Hall Primary School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Handford Hall Primary School currently has 358 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 315 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Handford Hall Primary School? ▾
Admission to Handford Hall Primary School is managed by Suffolk. 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 Handford Hall Primary School cover? ▾
Handford Hall Primary School is a primary school in Ipswich, Suffolk, serving pupils aged 4-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Handford Hall Primary School? ▾
Handford Hall Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.