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St Mary's Catholic School Catchment Area

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

St Mary's Catholic School is an academy converter secondary school in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1121 pupils, and a capacity of 1029 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,121

Pupils

1,029

Capacity

109%

Fill rate

St Mary's Catholic School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for St Mary's Catholic School?

The catchment area for St Mary's Catholic 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Hertfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to St Mary's Catholic School is managed by Hertfordshire 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: 1121 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1029 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 Hertfordshire publishes the 2027 St Mary's Catholic 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 →

St Mary's Catholic School: at or above its 1029 place limit

St Mary's Catholic School has a published admission number of 1029 places. 1121 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 109%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1029 places. Hertfordshire 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. 8.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Bishop's Stortford.

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) →

St Mary's Catholic School: School Information

Full address
Windhill, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2NQ
Local authority
Hertfordshire
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
8.6% of pupils
DfE URN
148499

Other Secondary Schools in Bishop's Stortford

If St Mary's Catholic School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Bishop's Stortford are the next closest alternatives.

Other Roman Catholic Schools in Hertfordshire

St Mary's Catholic School shares its religious character with these Roman Catholic schools across Hertfordshire. 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 Mary's Catholic 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 Mary's Catholic School

What is the catchment area for St Mary's Catholic School?

The catchment area for St Mary's Catholic 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Hertfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is St Mary's Catholic School oversubscribed?

Yes, St Mary's Catholic School currently has 1121 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1029 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for St Mary's Catholic School?

St Mary's Catholic School uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Hertfordshire before each admissions cycle.

What age range does St Mary's Catholic School cover?

St Mary's Catholic School is a secondary school in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

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