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The Birley Academy Catchment Area

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

The Birley Academy is an academy converter secondary school in Sheffield , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1108 pupils, and a capacity of 1163 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

1,108

Pupils

1,163

Capacity

95%

Fill rate

Requires improvement

Ofsted 2023

The Birley Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Birley Academy?

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

Operating near capacity: 95% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if The Birley Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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

Find Sheffield catchment area documents →

The Birley Academy: 1163 places, 95% filled: nearing capacity

The Birley Academy has a published admission number of 1163 places. 1108 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 95%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1163, Sheffield's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 36.4% of pupils at The Birley Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Sheffield.

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

Sheffield 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. Sheffield Council school admissions (official) →

The Birley Academy: School Information

Full address
Birley Lane, Sheffield, S12 3BP
Local authority
Sheffield
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
36.4% of pupils
DfE URN
143963

Other Secondary Schools in Sheffield

If The Birley Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Sheffield are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The Birley 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: The Birley Academy

What is the catchment area for The Birley Academy?

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

Is The Birley Academy oversubscribed?

The Birley Academy is operating close to its capacity of 1163 places (95% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for The Birley Academy?

Admission to The Birley Academy is managed by Sheffield. 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 Birley Academy cover?

The Birley Academy is a secondary school in Sheffield, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for The Birley Academy?

The Birley Academy was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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