Shefford Lower School Catchment Area
Shefford Lower School is a community primary school in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire , serving pupils aged 3-9, with 518 pupils, and a capacity of 450 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-9
Age range
518
Pupils
450
Capacity
115%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2017
Shefford Lower School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Shefford Lower School?
The catchment area for Shefford 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 Shefford 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.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Central Bedfordshire publishes the 2027 Shefford Lower School numbers →
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 →Shefford Lower School: heavily oversubscribed at 115% capacity
Shefford Lower School has a published admission number of 450 places. 518 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. 11.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Shefford.
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 →
Shefford Lower School: School Information
- Full address
- School Lane, Shefford, SG17 5XA
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 3-9 years
- Free school meals
- 11.6% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 109479
Other Primary Schools in Shefford
If Shefford Lower School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Shefford are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Shefford 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.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Shefford Lower School
What is the catchment area for Shefford Lower School? ▾
The catchment area for Shefford 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 Shefford Lower School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Shefford Lower School currently has 518 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 450 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Shefford Lower School? ▾
Admission to Shefford 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 Shefford Lower School cover? ▾
Shefford Lower School is a primary school in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire, serving pupils aged 3-9. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Shefford Lower School? ▾
Shefford Lower School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2017. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.