Lift Columbus Catchment Area
Lift Columbus is an academy special converter not applicable school in Chelmsford, Essex , serving pupils aged 3-19, with 286 pupils, and a capacity of 270 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-19
Age range
286
Pupils
270
Capacity
106%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2024
Lift Columbus Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Lift Columbus?
The catchment area for Lift Columbus is the geographic zone Essex 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. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Lift Columbus sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Essex. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
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Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Essex publishes the 2027 Lift Columbus numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Essex before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Essex catchment area documents →Lift Columbus: at or above its 270 place limit
Lift Columbus has a published admission number of 270 places. 286 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 106%. The school is at or above its published limit of 270 places. Essex 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. 31.7% of pupils at Lift Columbus are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Essex.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Essex 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. Essex Council school admissions (official) →
Lift Columbus: School Information
- Full address
- Oliver Way, Chelmsford, CM1 4ZB
- Local authority
- Essex
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 3-19 years
- Free school meals
- 31.7% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138122
Other Not applicable Schools in Chelmsford
If Lift Columbus is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Chelmsford are the next closest alternatives.
New Hall School Catchment Area
Other independent school · CM3 3HS
St Anne's School Catchment Area
Other independent school · CM2 0AW
St Cedd's School Catchment Area
Other independent school · CM2 0AR
Widford Lodge School Catchment Area
Other independent school · CM2 9AN
Heathcote School Catchment Area
Other independent school · CM3 4QB
Anglia Ruskin University Catchment Area
Higher education institutions · CM1 1SQ
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Lift Columbus 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: Lift Columbus
What is the catchment area for Lift Columbus? ▾
The catchment area for Lift Columbus is the geographic zone Essex 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. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Lift Columbus oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Lift Columbus currently has 286 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 270 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Lift Columbus? ▾
Admission to Lift Columbus is managed by Essex. 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 Lift Columbus cover? ▾
Lift Columbus is a not applicable school in Chelmsford, Essex, 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 Lift Columbus? ▾
Lift Columbus was rated Good by Ofsted in 2024. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.