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Palm Bay Primary School Catchment Area

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

Palm Bay Primary School is an academy converter primary school in Margate, Kent , serving pupils aged 5-11, with 414 pupils, and a capacity of 428 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

5-11

Age range

414

Pupils

428

Capacity

97%

Fill rate

Palm Bay Primary School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Palm Bay Primary School?

The catchment area for Palm Bay Primary School is the geographic zone Kent uses to prioritise admissions when this primary 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. Kent publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Palm Bay Primary School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Kent. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 97% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Palm Bay Primary School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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

Find Kent catchment area documents →

Palm Bay Primary School: 428 places, 97% filled: nearing capacity

Palm Bay Primary School has a published admission number of 428 places. 414 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 97%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 428, Kent'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. 29.5% of pupils at Palm Bay Primary School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Kent.

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

Kent 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 Kent school admissions →

Palm Bay Primary School: School Information

Full address
Palm Bay Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 3PP
Local authority
Kent
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
5-11 years
Free school meals
29.5% of pupils
DfE URN
148992

Other Primary Schools in Margate

If Palm Bay Primary School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Margate are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Palm Bay Primary 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: Palm Bay Primary School

What is the catchment area for Palm Bay Primary School?

The catchment area for Palm Bay Primary School is the geographic zone Kent uses to prioritise admissions when this primary 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. Kent publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Palm Bay Primary School oversubscribed?

Palm Bay Primary School is operating close to its capacity of 428 places (97% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Palm Bay Primary School?

Admission to Palm Bay Primary School is managed by Kent. 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 Palm Bay Primary School cover?

Palm Bay Primary School is a primary school in Margate, Kent, serving pupils aged 5-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

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