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catchment.school

John Watson School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

John Watson School is a community special not applicable school in Oxford, Oxfordshire , serving pupils aged 2-19, with 113 pupils, and a capacity of 110 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

2-19

Age range

113

Pupils

110

Capacity

103%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2016

John Watson School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for John Watson School?

The catchment area for John Watson School is the geographic zone Oxfordshire 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. Oxfordshire 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 John Watson School is set by Oxfordshire and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.

Currently oversubscribed: 113 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 110 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Oxfordshire publishes the 2027 John Watson School numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Oxfordshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Oxfordshire catchment area documents →

John Watson School: at or above its 110 place limit

John Watson School has a published admission number of 110 places. 113 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 103%. The school is at or above its published limit of 110 places. Oxfordshire 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. 30% of pupils at John Watson School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Oxfordshire.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Oxfordshire 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. Oxfordshire Council school admissions (official) →

John Watson School: School Information

Full address
Littleworth Road, Wheatley, Oxford, OX33 1NN
Local authority
Oxfordshire
School type
Community special school
Phase of education
Not applicable
Age range
2-19 years
Free school meals
30% of pupils
DfE URN
123333

Other Not applicable Schools in Oxford

If John Watson School is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Oxford are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest not applicable schools by distance

These are the not applicable schools closest to John Watson 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: John Watson School

What is the catchment area for John Watson School?

The catchment area for John Watson School is the geographic zone Oxfordshire 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. Oxfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is John Watson School oversubscribed?

Yes, John Watson School currently has 113 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 110 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for John Watson School?

Admission to John Watson School is managed by Oxfordshire. 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 John Watson School cover?

John Watson School is a not applicable school in Oxford, Oxfordshire, serving pupils aged 2-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for John Watson School?

John Watson School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2016. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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