Herons Dale School Catchment Area
Herons Dale School is a community special not applicable school in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex , serving pupils aged 4-11, with 145 pupils, and a capacity of 130 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
4-11
Age range
145
Pupils
130
Capacity
112%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2013
Herons Dale School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Herons Dale School?
The catchment area for Herons Dale School is the geographic zone West Sussex 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. West Sussex 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 Herons Dale School is set by West Sussex and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when West Sussex publishes the 2027 Herons Dale School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by West Sussex before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find West Sussex catchment area documents →Herons Dale School: heavily oversubscribed at 112% capacity
Herons Dale School has a published admission number of 130 places. 145 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 112%. At 112% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. West Sussex 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. 32.4% of pupils at Herons Dale School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across West Sussex.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
West Sussex 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. West Sussex Council school admissions (official) →
Herons Dale School: School Information
- Full address
- Hawkins Crescent, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6TN
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- School type
- Community special school
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 4-11 years
- Free school meals
- 32.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 126169
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Herons Dale 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: Herons Dale School
What is the catchment area for Herons Dale School? ▾
The catchment area for Herons Dale School is the geographic zone West Sussex 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. West Sussex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Herons Dale School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Herons Dale School currently has 145 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 130 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Herons Dale School? ▾
Admission to Herons Dale School is managed by West Sussex. 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 Herons Dale School cover? ▾
Herons Dale School is a not applicable school in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, 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 Herons Dale School? ▾
Herons Dale School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2013. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.