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catchment.school

Penwortham Priory Academy Catchment Area

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

Penwortham Priory Academy is an academy converter secondary school in Preston, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 744 pupils, and a capacity of 750 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

744

Pupils

750

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2020

Penwortham Priory Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Penwortham Priory Academy?

The catchment area for Penwortham Priory Academy 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.

As an academy, Penwortham Priory Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Lancashire. 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: 99% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Penwortham Priory Academy 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 →

Penwortham Priory Academy: 750 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

Penwortham Priory Academy has a published admission number of 750 places. 744 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 750, 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. 25.4% of pupils at Penwortham Priory Academy 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) →

Penwortham Priory Academy: School Information

Full address
Crow Hills Road, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 0JE
Local authority
Lancashire
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
25.4% of pupils
DfE URN
138948

Other Secondary Schools in Preston

If Penwortham Priory Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Preston are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Penwortham Priory Academy 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: Penwortham Priory Academy

What is the catchment area for Penwortham Priory Academy?

The catchment area for Penwortham Priory Academy 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 Penwortham Priory Academy oversubscribed?

Penwortham Priory Academy is operating close to its capacity of 750 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Penwortham Priory Academy?

Admission to Penwortham Priory Academy 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 Penwortham Priory Academy cover?

Penwortham Priory Academy is a secondary school in Preston, 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 Penwortham Priory Academy?

Penwortham Priory Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2020. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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