Pendle Vale College Catchment Area
Pendle Vale College is a community secondary school in Nelson, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1042 pupils, and a capacity of 1050 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-16
Age range
1,042
Pupils
1,050
Capacity
99%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2012
Pendle Vale College Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Pendle Vale College?
The catchment area for Pendle Vale College is the geographic zone Lancashire 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. Lancashire 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 Pendle Vale College are allocated by Lancashire 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.
Get an alert if Pendle Vale College goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
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 →Pendle Vale College: 1050 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity
Pendle Vale College has a published admission number of 1050 places. 1042 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1050, Lancashire'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. 32.8% of pupils at Pendle Vale 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) →
Pendle Vale College: School Information
- Full address
- Oxford Road, Nelson, BB9 8LF
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 32.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 134989
Other Secondary Schools in Nelson
If Pendle Vale College is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Nelson are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Pendle Vale 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: Pendle Vale College
What is the catchment area for Pendle Vale College? ▾
The catchment area for Pendle Vale College is the geographic zone Lancashire 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. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Pendle Vale College oversubscribed? ▾
Pendle Vale College is operating close to its capacity of 1050 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Pendle Vale College? ▾
Admission to Pendle Vale 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 Pendle Vale College cover? ▾
Pendle Vale College is a secondary school in Nelson, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Pendle Vale College? ▾
Pendle Vale College was rated Good by Ofsted in 2012. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.