Russell Lower School Catchment Area
Russell Lower School is a community primary school in Ampthill, Central Bedfordshire , serving pupils aged 5-9, with 443 pupils, and a capacity of 450 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
5-9
Age range
443
Pupils
450
Capacity
98%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2012
Russell Lower School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Russell Lower School?
The catchment area for Russell Lower School is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire 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. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
The catchment area for Russell Lower School is set by Central Bedfordshire and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
Get an alert if Russell Lower School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Central Bedfordshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Central Bedfordshire catchment area documents →Russell Lower School: 450 places, 98% filled: nearing capacity
Russell Lower School has a published admission number of 450 places. 443 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 98%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 450, Central Bedfordshire'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. 5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Ampthill.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Central Bedfordshire 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 Central Bedfordshire school admissions →
Russell Lower School: School Information
- Full address
- Queens Road, Ampthill, MK45 2TD
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 5-9 years
- Free school meals
- 5% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 109495
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Russell Lower 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Russell Lower School
What is the catchment area for Russell Lower School? ▾
The catchment area for Russell Lower School is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire 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. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Russell Lower School oversubscribed? ▾
Russell Lower School is operating close to its capacity of 450 places (98% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Russell Lower School? ▾
Admission to Russell Lower School 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 Russell Lower School cover? ▾
Russell Lower School is a primary school in Ampthill, Central Bedfordshire, serving pupils aged 5-9. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Russell Lower School? ▾
Russell Lower School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2012. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.