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catchment.school

St Matthew Academy Catchment Area

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

St Matthew Academy is an academy sponsor led special school in London, Lewisham , serving pupils aged 4-16, with 1065 pupils, and a capacity of 1650 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby special schools below.

4-16

Age range

1,065

Pupils

1,650

Capacity

65%

Fill rate

St Matthew Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for St Matthew Academy?

St Matthew Academy is a special school in London, Lewisham, and it does not use a standard catchment area. Lewisham allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.

Admission to St Matthew Academy follows a different process from mainstream schools. Lewisham assesses each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to determine appropriate placement. Catchment area does not apply in the same way as mainstream admissions.

For more information on how Lewisham assesses EHCP placements and which schools are named, contact the council's SEND team directly. The council must publish its Local Offer explaining available provision.

Find Lewisham catchment area documents →

St Matthew Academy: 1650 places, 65% filled: places available

St Matthew Academy has a published admission number of 1650 places. 1065 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 65%. At 65% full, the school currently has headroom below its 1650 place limit. Catchment distance criteria still apply when the school is oversubscribed, but at current demand levels, places have been available for applicants outside the immediate catchment area.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 35% of pupils at St Matthew Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Lewisham.

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

St Matthew Academy: School Information

Full address
St Joseph's Vale, London, SE3 0XX
Local authority
Lewisham
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Special
Age range
4-16 years
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
35% of pupils
DfE URN
135264

Other Special Schools in London

If St Matthew Academy is oversubscribed, these special schools in London are the next closest alternatives.

Other Roman Catholic Schools in Lewisham

St Matthew Academy shares its religious character with these Roman Catholic schools across Lewisham. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest special schools by distance

These are the special schools closest to St Matthew Academy 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 Matthew Academy

What is the catchment area for St Matthew Academy?

St Matthew Academy is a special school in London, Lewisham, and it does not use a standard catchment area. Lewisham allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.

Is St Matthew Academy oversubscribed?

St Matthew Academy has a capacity of 1650 places and currently has 1065 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Lewisham.

What is the admissions policy for St Matthew Academy?

St Matthew Academy uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Lewisham before each admissions cycle.

What age range does St Matthew Academy cover?

St Matthew Academy is a special school in London, Lewisham, serving pupils aged 4-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

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