Skip to content
A free, independent guide for parents - updated each admissions cycle. 26,506 schools · England & Wales
catchment.school

The Ashcombe School Catchment Area

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

The Ashcombe School is an academy converter secondary school in Dorking, Surrey , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1513 pupils, and a capacity of 1476 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,513

Pupils

1,476

Capacity

103%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2015

The Ashcombe School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Ashcombe School?

The catchment area for The Ashcombe School is the geographic zone Surrey 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. Surrey 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 Ashcombe School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Surrey. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Currently oversubscribed: 1513 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1476 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 Surrey publishes the 2027 The Ashcombe School numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Surrey before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Surrey catchment area documents →

The Ashcombe School: at or above its 1476 place limit

The Ashcombe School has a published admission number of 1476 places. 1513 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 103%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1476 places. Surrey 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. 11% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Dorking.

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

Surrey 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. Surrey Council school admissions (official) →

The Ashcombe School: School Information

Full address
Ashcombe Road, Dorking, RH4 1LY
Local authority
Surrey
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
11% of pupils
DfE URN
143901

Other Secondary Schools in Dorking

If The Ashcombe School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Dorking are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The Ashcombe 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: The Ashcombe School

What is the catchment area for The Ashcombe School?

The catchment area for The Ashcombe School is the geographic zone Surrey 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. Surrey publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is The Ashcombe School oversubscribed?

Yes, The Ashcombe School currently has 1513 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1476 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for The Ashcombe School?

Admission to The Ashcombe School is managed by Surrey. 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 Ashcombe School cover?

The Ashcombe School is a secondary school in Dorking, Surrey, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for The Ashcombe School?

The Ashcombe School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2015. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

Get admissions updates by email

Join parents who get catchment boundary changes and key admissions dates - free, once per term.

No spam. Unsubscribe any time.