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St Cecilia's RC High School Catchment Area

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

St Cecilia's RC High School is a voluntary aided secondary school in Preston, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 570 pupils, and a capacity of 485 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-16

Age range

570

Pupils

485

Capacity

118%

Fill rate

St Cecilia's RC High School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for St Cecilia's RC High School?

The catchment area for St Cecilia's RC High School is the geographic zone Lancashire 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to St Cecilia's RC High School is managed by Lancashire and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.

Currently oversubscribed: 570 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 485 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Lancashire publishes the 2027 St Cecilia's RC High School numbers →

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 →

St Cecilia's RC High School: heavily oversubscribed at 118% capacity

St Cecilia's RC High School has a published admission number of 485 places. 570 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 118%. At 118% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Lancashire 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. 29.6% of pupils at St Cecilia's RC High School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Lancashire.

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) →

St Cecilia's RC High School: School Information

Full address
Chapel Hill, Longridge, Preston, PR3 2XA
Local authority
Lancashire
School type
Voluntary aided school
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
29.6% of pupils
DfE URN
119800

Other Secondary Schools in Preston

If St Cecilia's RC High School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Preston are the next closest alternatives.

Other Roman Catholic Schools in Lancashire

St Cecilia's RC High School shares its religious character with these Roman Catholic schools across Lancashire. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to St Cecilia's RC 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: St Cecilia's RC High School

What is the catchment area for St Cecilia's RC High School?

The catchment area for St Cecilia's RC High School is the geographic zone Lancashire 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is St Cecilia's RC High School oversubscribed?

Yes, St Cecilia's RC High School currently has 570 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 485 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for St Cecilia's RC High School?

St Cecilia's RC High School uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Lancashire before each admissions cycle.

What age range does St Cecilia's RC High School cover?

St Cecilia's RC High School is a secondary school in Preston, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

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