Helena Romanes School Catchment Area
Helena Romanes School is an academy converter special school in Great Dunmow, Essex , serving pupils aged 4-18, with 1309 pupils, and a capacity of 1593 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby special schools below.
4-18
Age range
1,309
Pupils
1,593
Capacity
82%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2023
Helena Romanes School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Helena Romanes School?
Helena Romanes School is a special school in Great Dunmow, Essex, and it does not use a standard catchment area. Essex allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Admission to Helena Romanes School follows a different process from mainstream schools. Essex assesses each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to determine appropriate placement. Catchment area does not apply in the same way as mainstream admissions.
For more information on how Essex assesses EHCP placements and which schools are named, contact the council's SEND team directly. The council must publish its Local Offer explaining available provision.
Find Essex catchment area documents →Helena Romanes School: 1593 places, 82% filled: places available
Helena Romanes School has a published admission number of 1593 places. 1309 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 82%. At 82% full, the school currently has headroom below its 1593 place limit. Catchment distance criteria still apply when the school is oversubscribed, but at current demand levels, places have been available for applicants outside the immediate catchment area.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 18% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Great Dunmow.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Helena Romanes School: School Information
- Full address
- Parsonage Downs, Great Dunmow, CM6 2AU
- Local authority
- Essex
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Special
- Age range
- 4-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 18% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 137975
Nearest special schools by distance
These are the special schools closest to Helena Romanes 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: Helena Romanes School
What is the catchment area for Helena Romanes School? ▾
Helena Romanes School is a special school in Great Dunmow, Essex, and it does not use a standard catchment area. Essex allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Is Helena Romanes School oversubscribed? ▾
Helena Romanes School has a capacity of 1593 places and currently has 1309 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Essex.
What is the admissions policy for Helena Romanes School? ▾
Admission to Helena Romanes School is managed by Essex. 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 Helena Romanes School cover? ▾
Helena Romanes School is a special school in Great Dunmow, Essex, serving pupils aged 4-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Helena Romanes School? ▾
Helena Romanes School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.