The Duston School Catchment Area
The Duston School is an academy converter special school in Northampton, West Northamptonshire , serving pupils aged 4-18, with 2018 pupils, and a capacity of 1830 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
4-18
Age range
2,018
Pupils
1,830
Capacity
110%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2021
The Duston School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Duston School?
The Duston School is a special school in Northampton, West Northamptonshire, and it does not use a standard catchment area. West Northamptonshire allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Admission to The Duston School follows a different process from mainstream schools. West Northamptonshire assesses each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to determine appropriate placement. Catchment area does not apply in the same way as mainstream admissions.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when West Northamptonshire publishes the 2027 The Duston School numbers →
For more information on how West Northamptonshire assesses EHCP placements and which schools are named, contact the council's SEND team directly. The council must publish its Local Offer explaining available provision.
Find West Northamptonshire catchment area documents →The Duston School: heavily oversubscribed at 110% capacity
The Duston School has a published admission number of 1830 places. 2018 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 110%. At 110% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. West Northamptonshire 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. 16.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Northampton.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
The Duston School: School Information
- Full address
- Berrywood Road, Duston, Northampton, NN5 6XA
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Special
- Age range
- 4-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16.5% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138214
Other Special Schools in Northampton
If The Duston School is oversubscribed, these special schools in Northampton are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest special schools by distance
These are the special schools closest to The Duston 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 Duston School
What is the catchment area for The Duston School? ▾
The Duston School is a special school in Northampton, West Northamptonshire, and it does not use a standard catchment area. West Northamptonshire allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Is The Duston School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, The Duston School currently has 2018 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1830 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for The Duston School? ▾
Admission to The Duston School is managed by West Northamptonshire. 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 Duston School cover? ▾
The Duston School is a special school in Northampton, West Northamptonshire, serving pupils aged 4-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Duston School? ▾
The Duston School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2021. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.