Priory Academy Catchment Area
Priory Academy is an academy converter special school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire , serving pupils aged 9-16, with 808 pupils, and a capacity of 700 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
9-16
Age range
808
Pupils
700
Capacity
115%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2017
Priory Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Priory Academy?
Priory Academy is a special school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, and it does not use a standard catchment area. Central Bedfordshire allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Admission to Priory Academy follows a different process from mainstream schools. Central Bedfordshire assesses each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to determine appropriate placement. Catchment area does not apply in the same way as mainstream admissions.
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Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Central Bedfordshire publishes the 2027 Priory Academy numbers →
For more information on how Central Bedfordshire assesses EHCP placements and which schools are named, contact the council's SEND team directly. The council must publish its Local Offer explaining available provision.
Find Central Bedfordshire catchment area documents →Priory Academy: heavily oversubscribed at 115% capacity
Priory Academy has a published admission number of 700 places. 808 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 115%. At 115% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Central Bedfordshire allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 13.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Dunstable.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Priory Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Priory Academy, Britain Street, Dunstable, LU5 4JA
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Special
- Age range
- 9-16 years
- Free school meals
- 13.7% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138181
Nearest special schools by distance
These are the special schools closest to 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Priory Academy
What is the catchment area for Priory Academy? ▾
Priory Academy is a special school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, and it does not use a standard catchment area. Central Bedfordshire allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Is Priory Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Priory Academy currently has 808 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 700 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Priory Academy? ▾
Admission to Priory Academy is managed by Central Bedfordshire. 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 Priory Academy cover? ▾
Priory Academy is a special school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, serving pupils aged 9-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Priory Academy? ▾
Priory Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2017. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.