Highfields School Catchment Area
Highfields School is an academy converter secondary school in Matlock, Derbyshire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1295 pupils, and a capacity of 1394 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-18
Age range
1,295
Pupils
1,394
Capacity
93%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2012
Highfields School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Highfields School?
The catchment area for Highfields School is the geographic zone Derbyshire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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. Derbyshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Highfields School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Derbyshire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Get an alert if Highfields School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Derbyshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Derbyshire catchment area documents →Highfields School: 1394 places, 93% filled: nearing capacity
Highfields School has a published admission number of 1394 places. 1295 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 93%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1394, Derbyshire'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. 24.8% of pupils at Highfields School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Derbyshire.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Derbyshire 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. Derbyshire Council school admissions (official) →
Highfields School: School Information
- Full address
- Upper Lumsdale, Matlock, DE4 5NA
- Local authority
- Derbyshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 24.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 148299
Other Secondary Schools in Matlock
If Highfields School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Matlock are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Highfields 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: Highfields School
What is the catchment area for Highfields School? ▾
The catchment area for Highfields School is the geographic zone Derbyshire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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. Derbyshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Highfields School oversubscribed? ▾
Highfields School is operating close to its capacity of 1394 places (93% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Highfields School? ▾
Admission to Highfields School is managed by Derbyshire. 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 Highfields School cover? ▾
Highfields School is a secondary school in Matlock, Derbyshire, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Highfields School? ▾
Highfields School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2012. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.