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catchment.school

Harwood Meadows Primary School Catchment Area

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

Harwood Meadows Primary School is an academy converter primary school in Bolton , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 217 pupils, and a capacity of 236 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

3-11

Age range

217

Pupils

236

Capacity

92%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2022

Harwood Meadows Primary School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Harwood Meadows Primary School?

The catchment area for Harwood Meadows Primary School is the geographic zone Bolton 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. 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, Harwood Meadows Primary 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.

Operating near capacity: 92% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Harwood Meadows Primary School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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 →

Harwood Meadows Primary School: 236 places, 92% filled: nearing capacity

Harwood Meadows Primary School has a published admission number of 236 places. 217 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 92%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 236, Bolton'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. 18.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part 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 →

Harwood Meadows Primary School: School Information

Full address
Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS
Local authority
Bolton
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
3-11 years
Free school meals
18.9% of pupils
DfE URN
137991

Other Primary Schools in Bolton

If Harwood Meadows Primary School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Bolton are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Harwood Meadows 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Harwood Meadows Primary School

What is the catchment area for Harwood Meadows Primary School?

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

Is Harwood Meadows Primary School oversubscribed?

Harwood Meadows Primary School is operating close to its capacity of 236 places (92% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Harwood Meadows Primary School?

Admission to Harwood Meadows Primary 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 Harwood Meadows Primary School cover?

Harwood Meadows Primary School is a primary school in Bolton, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Harwood Meadows Primary School?

Harwood Meadows Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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