River Mead School Catchment Area
River Mead School is an academy sponsor led primary school in Melksham, Wiltshire , serving pupils aged 2-11, with 281 pupils, and a capacity of 210 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
2-11
Age range
281
Pupils
210
Capacity
134%
Fill rate
River Mead School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for River Mead School?
The catchment area for River Mead School is the geographic zone Wiltshire 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. Wiltshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, River Mead School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Wiltshire. 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 Wiltshire publishes the 2027 River Mead School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Wiltshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Wiltshire catchment area documents →River Mead School: heavily oversubscribed at 134% capacity
River Mead School has a published admission number of 210 places. 281 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 134%. At 134% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Wiltshire 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. 44.4% of pupils at River Mead School are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Melksham.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire school admissions →
River Mead School: School Information
- Full address
- Lowbourne, Melksham, SN12 7ED
- Local authority
- Wiltshire
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 2-11 years
- Free school meals
- 44.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 139260
Other Primary Schools in Melksham
If River Mead School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Melksham are the next closest alternatives.
Seend Church of England Primary School Catchment Area
Academy converter · SN12 6NJ
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School Catchment Area
Academy converter · SN12 7GN
Aloeric Primary School Catchment Area
Academy converter · SN12 6HN
Bowerhill Primary School Catchment Area
Academy converter · SN12 6YH
Shaw CE Primary School Catchment Area
Academy converter · SN12 8EQ
St Mary's Broughton Gifford Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School Catchment Area
Academy converter · SN12 8PR
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to River Mead 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.
Lacock Church of England Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary controlled school · Chippenham · 2.6 miles away
Holt Voluntary Controlled Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary controlled school · Trowbridge · 2.9 miles away
Hilperton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary controlled school · Trowbridge · 3.8 miles away
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: River Mead School
What is the catchment area for River Mead School? ▾
The catchment area for River Mead School is the geographic zone Wiltshire 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. Wiltshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is River Mead School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, River Mead School currently has 281 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 210 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for River Mead School? ▾
Admission to River Mead School is managed by Wiltshire. 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 River Mead School cover? ▾
River Mead School is a primary school in Melksham, Wiltshire, serving pupils aged 2-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.