Rainford High School Catchment Area
Rainford High School is an academy converter secondary school in St Helens, St. Helens , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1675 pupils, and a capacity of 1650 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-18
Age range
1,675
Pupils
1,650
Capacity
102%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2015
Rainford High School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Rainford High School?
The catchment area for Rainford High School is the geographic zone St. Helens 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. St. Helens publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Rainford High School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with St. Helens. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when St. Helens publishes the 2027 Rainford High School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by St. Helens before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find St. Helens catchment area documents →Rainford High School: at or above its 1650 place limit
Rainford High School has a published admission number of 1650 places. 1675 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 102%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1650 places. St. Helens 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. 15.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of St Helens.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
St. Helens 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 St. Helens school admissions →
Rainford High School: School Information
- Full address
- Higher Lane, Rainford, St Helens, WA11 8NY
- Local authority
- St. Helens
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 15.5% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 144327
Other Secondary Schools in St Helens
If Rainford High School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in St Helens are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Rainford High 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.
Lathom High School : A Technology College Catchment Area
Foundation school · Skelmersdale · 3.7 miles away
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Skelmersdale · 3.8 miles away
St Peter's Catholic High School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Wigan · 4.1 miles away
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Rainford High School
What is the catchment area for Rainford High School? ▾
The catchment area for Rainford High School is the geographic zone St. Helens 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. St. Helens publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Rainford High School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Rainford High School currently has 1675 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1650 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Rainford High School? ▾
Admission to Rainford High School is managed by St. Helens. 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 Rainford High School cover? ▾
Rainford High School is a secondary school in St Helens, St. Helens, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Rainford High School? ▾
Rainford High School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2015. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.