Saffron Walden County High School Catchment Area
Saffron Walden County High School is an academy converter secondary school in Saffron Walden, Essex , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 2119 pupils, and a capacity of 2050 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-18
Age range
2,119
Pupils
2,050
Capacity
103%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2024
Saffron Walden County High School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Saffron Walden County High School?
The catchment area for Saffron Walden County High School is the geographic zone Essex 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. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Saffron Walden County High School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Essex. 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 Essex publishes the 2027 Saffron Walden County High School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Essex before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Essex catchment area documents →Saffron Walden County High School: at or above its 2050 place limit
Saffron Walden County High School has a published admission number of 2050 places. 2119 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 103%. The school is at or above its published limit of 2050 places. Essex 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. 9.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Saffron Walden.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Essex 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. Essex Council school admissions (official) →
Saffron Walden County High School: School Information
- Full address
- Audley End Road, Saffron Walden, CB11 4UH
- Local authority
- Essex
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 9.9% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 136776
Other Secondary Schools in Saffron Walden
If Saffron Walden County High School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Saffron Walden are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Saffron Walden County 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Saffron Walden County High School
What is the catchment area for Saffron Walden County High School? ▾
The catchment area for Saffron Walden County High School is the geographic zone Essex 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. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Saffron Walden County High School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Saffron Walden County High School currently has 2119 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 2050 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Saffron Walden County High School? ▾
Admission to Saffron Walden County High School is managed by Essex. 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 Saffron Walden County High School cover? ▾
Saffron Walden County High School is a secondary school in Saffron Walden, Essex, 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 Saffron Walden County High School? ▾
Saffron Walden County High School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2024. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.