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catchment.school

Sir Tom Finney Community High School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Sir Tom Finney Community High School is a community special not applicable school in Preston, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 11-19, with 237 pupils, and a capacity of 245 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-19

Age range

237

Pupils

245

Capacity

97%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2017

Sir Tom Finney Community High School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Sir Tom Finney Community High School?

The catchment area for Sir Tom Finney Community High School is the geographic zone Lancashire uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable 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. Lancashire 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 Sir Tom Finney Community High School is set by Lancashire and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.

Operating near capacity: 97% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Sir Tom Finney Community High School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Lancashire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Lancashire catchment area documents →

Sir Tom Finney Community High School: 245 places, 97% filled: nearing capacity

Sir Tom Finney Community High School has a published admission number of 245 places. 237 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 97%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 245, Lancashire'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. 45.2% of pupils at Sir Tom Finney Community High 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 Preston.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Lancashire 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. Lancashire Council school admissions (official) →

Sir Tom Finney Community High School: School Information

Full address
Ribbleton Hall Drive, Preston, PR2 6EE
Local authority
Lancashire
School type
Community special school
Phase of education
Not applicable
Age range
11-19 years
Free school meals
45.2% of pupils
DfE URN
135346

Other Not applicable Schools in Preston

If Sir Tom Finney Community High School is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Preston are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest not applicable schools by distance

These are the not applicable schools closest to Sir Tom Finney Community 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Sir Tom Finney Community High School

What is the catchment area for Sir Tom Finney Community High School?

The catchment area for Sir Tom Finney Community High School is the geographic zone Lancashire uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable 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. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Sir Tom Finney Community High School oversubscribed?

Sir Tom Finney Community High School is operating close to its capacity of 245 places (97% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Sir Tom Finney Community High School?

Admission to Sir Tom Finney Community High School is managed by Lancashire. 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 Tom Finney Community High School cover?

Sir Tom Finney Community High School is a not applicable school in Preston, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 11-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Sir Tom Finney Community High School?

Sir Tom Finney Community High School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2017. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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