Houstone School Catchment Area
Houstone School is a free s secondary school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 657 pupils, and a capacity of 900 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby secondary schools below.
11-16
Age range
657
Pupils
900
Capacity
73%
Fill rate
Houstone School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Houstone School?
The catchment area for Houstone School is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire 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. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Secondary school places at Houstone School are allocated by Central Bedfordshire using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Central Bedfordshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Central Bedfordshire catchment area documents →Houstone School: 900 places, 73% filled: places available
Houstone School has a published admission number of 900 places. 657 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 73%. At 73% full, the school currently has headroom below its 900 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. 27.6% of pupils at Houstone School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Central Bedfordshire.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Central Bedfordshire 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 Central Bedfordshire school admissions →
Houstone School: School Information
- Full address
- Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5PX
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- School type
- Free schools
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 27.6% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 149107
Other Secondary Schools in Dunstable
If Houstone School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Dunstable are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Houstone 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: Houstone School
What is the catchment area for Houstone School? ▾
The catchment area for Houstone School is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire 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. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Houstone School oversubscribed? ▾
Houstone School has a capacity of 900 places and currently has 657 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Central Bedfordshire.
What is the admissions policy for Houstone School? ▾
Admission to Houstone School is managed by Central Bedfordshire. 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 Houstone School cover? ▾
Houstone School is a secondary school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.