The Appleton School Catchment Area
The Appleton School is an academy converter secondary school in Benfleet, Essex , serving pupils aged 11-19, with 1561 pupils, and a capacity of 1500 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-19
Age range
1,561
Pupils
1,500
Capacity
104%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2019
The Appleton School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Appleton School?
The catchment area for The Appleton School is the geographic zone Essex 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 siblings. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, The Appleton School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Essex. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Essex publishes the 2027 The Appleton School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Essex before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Essex catchment area documents →The Appleton School: at or above its 1500 place limit
The Appleton School has a published admission number of 1500 places. 1561 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 104%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1500 places. Essex 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. 15.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Benfleet.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Essex 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. Essex Council school admissions (official) →
The Appleton School: School Information
- Full address
- Croft Road, Benfleet, SS7 5RN
- Local authority
- Essex
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-19 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 15.9% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 136579
Other Secondary Schools in Benfleet
If The Appleton School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Benfleet are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to The Appleton 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: The Appleton School
What is the catchment area for The Appleton School? ▾
The catchment area for The Appleton School is the geographic zone Essex 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 siblings. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Appleton School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, The Appleton School currently has 1561 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1500 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for The Appleton School? ▾
Admission to The Appleton School is managed by Essex. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does The Appleton School cover? ▾
The Appleton School is a secondary school in Benfleet, Essex, serving pupils aged 11-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Appleton School? ▾
The Appleton School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2019. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.