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catchment.school

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall Catchment Area

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

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall is a voluntary aided primary school in Rossendale, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 5-11, with 213 pupils, and a capacity of 210 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

5-11

Age range

213

Pupils

210

Capacity

101%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2013

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall?

The catchment area for St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall is the geographic zone Lancashire 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, 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 James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall 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: 213 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 210 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 James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall 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 James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall: at or above its 210 place limit

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall has a published admission number of 210 places. 213 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 101%. The school is at or above its published limit of 210 places. Lancashire 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. 13.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Rossendale.

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 James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall: School Information

Full address
Unity Way, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, BB4 8SU
Local authority
Lancashire
School type
Voluntary aided school
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
5-11 years
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Free school meals
13.6% of pupils
DfE URN
119665

Other Primary Schools in Rossendale

If St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Rossendale are the next closest alternatives.

Other Roman Catholic Schools in Lancashire

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall 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 primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall 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 James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall

What is the catchment area for St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall?

The catchment area for St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall is the geographic zone Lancashire 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, 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 James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall oversubscribed?

Yes, St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall currently has 213 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 210 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall?

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall 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 James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall cover?

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall is a primary school in Rossendale, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 5-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall?

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall was rated Good by Ofsted in 2013. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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