Sir John Lawes School Catchment Area
Sir John Lawes School is an academy converter secondary school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1356 pupils, and a capacity of 1200 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-18
Age range
1,356
Pupils
1,200
Capacity
113%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2023
Sir John Lawes School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Sir John Lawes School?
The catchment area for Sir John Lawes School is the geographic zone Hertfordshire 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. Hertfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Sir John Lawes School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Hertfordshire. 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 Hertfordshire publishes the 2027 Sir John Lawes School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Hertfordshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Hertfordshire catchment area documents →Sir John Lawes School: heavily oversubscribed at 113% capacity
Sir John Lawes School has a published admission number of 1200 places. 1356 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 113%. At 113% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Hertfordshire 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. 8.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Harpenden.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Hertfordshire 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. Hertfordshire Council school admissions (official) →
Sir John Lawes School: School Information
- Full address
- Manland Way, Harpenden, AL5 4QP
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 8.9% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 137270
Other Secondary Schools in Harpenden
If Sir John Lawes School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Harpenden are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Sir John Lawes 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: Sir John Lawes School
What is the catchment area for Sir John Lawes School? ▾
The catchment area for Sir John Lawes School is the geographic zone Hertfordshire 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. Hertfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Sir John Lawes School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Sir John Lawes School currently has 1356 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1200 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Sir John Lawes School? ▾
Admission to Sir John Lawes School is managed by Hertfordshire. 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 Sir John Lawes School cover? ▾
Sir John Lawes School is a secondary school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, 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 Sir John Lawes School? ▾
Sir John Lawes School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.