St Stephen's CofE School Catchment Area
St Stephen's CofE School is a voluntary controlled primary school in PRESTON, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 347 pupils, and a capacity of 315 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-11
Age range
347
Pupils
315
Capacity
110%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2023
St Stephen's CofE School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for St Stephen's CofE School?
The catchment area for St Stephen's CofE School 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 Stephen's CofE 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.
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 Stephen's CofE 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 Stephen's CofE School: heavily oversubscribed at 110% capacity
St Stephen's CofE School has a published admission number of 315 places. 347 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 110%. At 110% 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. 35.4% of pupils at St Stephen's CofE 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 Stephen's CofE School: School Information
- Full address
- South Meadow Lane, PRESTON, PR1 8JN
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 3-11 years
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 35.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 119358
Other Primary Schools in PRESTON
If St Stephen's CofE School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in PRESTON are the next closest alternatives.
Other Church of England Schools in Lancashire
St Stephen's CofE School shares its religious character with these Church of England schools across Lancashire. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.
Barnoldswick Church of England Controlled Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary controlled school · Barnoldswick
Kirkland and Catterall St Helen's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Preston
Cop Lane Church of England Primary School, Penwortham Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Preston
Howick Church Endowed Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Preston
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to St Stephen's CofE 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.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: St Stephen's CofE School
What is the catchment area for St Stephen's CofE School? ▾
The catchment area for St Stephen's CofE School 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 Stephen's CofE School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, St Stephen's CofE School currently has 347 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 315 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for St Stephen's CofE School? ▾
St Stephen's CofE 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 Stephen's CofE School cover? ▾
St Stephen's CofE School is a primary school in PRESTON, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for St Stephen's CofE School? ▾
St Stephen's CofE School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.