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catchment.school

The Charles Dickens School Catchment Area

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

The Charles Dickens School is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Broadstairs, Kent , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1113 pupils, and a capacity of 1104 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,113

Pupils

1,104

Capacity

101%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2023

The Charles Dickens School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Charles Dickens School?

The catchment area for The Charles Dickens School is the geographic zone Kent 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. Kent 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 Charles Dickens School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Kent. 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: 1113 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1104 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 Kent publishes the 2027 The Charles Dickens School numbers →

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

Find Kent catchment area documents →

The Charles Dickens School: at or above its 1104 place limit

The Charles Dickens School has a published admission number of 1104 places. 1113 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 101%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1104 places. Kent 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. 40.1% of pupils at The Charles Dickens School are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Broadstairs.

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

Kent 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. Find Kent school admissions →

The Charles Dickens School: School Information

Full address
Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2RL
Local authority
Kent
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
40.1% of pupils
DfE URN
144015

Other Secondary Schools in Broadstairs

If The Charles Dickens School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Broadstairs are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The Charles Dickens 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 Charles Dickens School

What is the catchment area for The Charles Dickens School?

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

Is The Charles Dickens School oversubscribed?

Yes, The Charles Dickens School currently has 1113 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1104 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for The Charles Dickens School?

Admission to The Charles Dickens School is managed by Kent. 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 Charles Dickens School cover?

The Charles Dickens School is a secondary school in Broadstairs, Kent, 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 Charles Dickens School?

The Charles Dickens School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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