Hillside Specialist School and College Catchment Area
Hillside Specialist School and College is a community special not applicable school in Preston, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 3-19, with 115 pupils, and a capacity of 99 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-19
Age range
115
Pupils
99
Capacity
116%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2018
Hillside Specialist School and College Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Hillside Specialist School and College?
The catchment area for Hillside Specialist School and College is the geographic zone Lancashire 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. Lancashire 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 Hillside Specialist School and College is set by Lancashire 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 Lancashire publishes the 2027 Hillside Specialist School and College numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Lancashire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Lancashire catchment area documents →Hillside Specialist School and College: heavily oversubscribed at 116% capacity
Hillside Specialist School and College has a published admission number of 99 places. 115 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 116%. At 116% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Lancashire 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. 37.4% of pupils at Hillside Specialist School and College are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Lancashire.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Lancashire 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. Lancashire Council school admissions (official) →
Hillside Specialist School and College: School Information
- Full address
- Ribchester Road, Longridge, Preston, PR3 3XB
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- School type
- Community special school
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 3-19 years
- Free school meals
- 37.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 131479
Other Not applicable Schools in Preston
If Hillside Specialist School and College is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Preston are the next closest alternatives.
Larches High School Catchment Area
Pupil referral unit · PR1 6AA
St Pius X Preparatory School Catchment Area
Other independent school · PR2 8RD
Highfield Priory School Catchment Area
Other independent school · PR2 5RW
Kirkham Grammar School Catchment Area
Other independent school · PR4 2BH
Ashbridge Independent School Catchment Area
Other independent school · PR4 4AQ
Moorbrook School Catchment Area
Community special school · PR2 3DB
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Hillside Specialist School and College 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: Hillside Specialist School and College
What is the catchment area for Hillside Specialist School and College? ▾
The catchment area for Hillside Specialist School and College is the geographic zone Lancashire 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. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Hillside Specialist School and College oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Hillside Specialist School and College currently has 115 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 99 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Hillside Specialist School and College? ▾
Admission to Hillside Specialist School and College is managed by Lancashire. 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 Hillside Specialist School and College cover? ▾
Hillside Specialist School and College is a not applicable school in Preston, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 3-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Hillside Specialist School and College? ▾
Hillside Specialist School and College was rated Good by Ofsted in 2018. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.