Highfield Academy Catchment Area
Highfield Academy is an academy converter primary school in Sunderland , serving pupils aged 2-11, with 446 pupils, and a capacity of 420 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
2-11
Age range
446
Pupils
420
Capacity
106%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2013
Highfield Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Highfield Academy?
The catchment area for Highfield Academy is the geographic zone Sunderland 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. Sunderland publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Highfield Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Sunderland. 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 Sunderland publishes the 2027 Highfield Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Sunderland before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Sunderland catchment area documents →Highfield Academy: at or above its 420 place limit
Highfield Academy has a published admission number of 420 places. 446 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 106%. The school is at or above its published limit of 420 places. Sunderland allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 50.8% of pupils at Highfield Academy are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Sunderland.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Sunderland 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 Sunderland school admissions →
Highfield Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Fordfield Road, Ford Estate, Sunderland, SR4 0DA
- Local authority
- Sunderland
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 2-11 years
- Free school meals
- 50.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 144219
Other Primary Schools in Sunderland
If Highfield Academy is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Sunderland are the next closest alternatives.
Marsden Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · SR6 7HJ
Barnes Junior School Catchment Area
Community school · SR4 7QF
Broadway Junior School Catchment Area
Community school · SR4 8NW
Grangetown Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · SR2 8PX
Fulwell Junior School Catchment Area
Community school · SR6 9EE
Grange Park Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · SR5 1EA
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Highfield Academy 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: Highfield Academy
What is the catchment area for Highfield Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Highfield Academy is the geographic zone Sunderland 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. Sunderland publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Highfield Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Highfield Academy currently has 446 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 420 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Highfield Academy? ▾
Admission to Highfield Academy is managed by Sunderland. 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 Highfield Academy cover? ▾
Highfield Academy is a primary school in Sunderland, serving pupils aged 2-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Highfield Academy? ▾
Highfield Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2013. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.