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catchment.school

The Elms Academy Catchment Area

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

The Elms Academy is an academy sponsor led secondary school in London, Lambeth , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 836 pupils, and a capacity of 875 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-18

Age range

836

Pupils

875

Capacity

96%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2020

The Elms Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Elms Academy?

The catchment area for The Elms Academy is the geographic zone Lambeth 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Lambeth publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to The Elms Academy is managed by Lambeth and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.

Operating near capacity: 96% 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 Elms Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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

Find Lambeth catchment area documents →

The Elms Academy: 875 places, 96% filled: nearing capacity

The Elms Academy has a published admission number of 875 places. 836 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 96%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 875, Lambeth'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. 51.3% of pupils at The Elms Academy 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 London.

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

Lambeth 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 Lambeth school admissions →

The Elms Academy: School Information

Full address
Elms Road, Clapham, London, SW4 9ET
Local authority
Lambeth
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Religious character
Christian
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
51.3% of pupils
DfE URN
134815

Other Secondary Schools in London

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

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The Elms 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 Elms Academy

What is the catchment area for The Elms Academy?

The catchment area for The Elms Academy is the geographic zone Lambeth 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Lambeth publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is The Elms Academy oversubscribed?

The Elms Academy is operating close to its capacity of 875 places (96% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for The Elms Academy?

The Elms Academy uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Lambeth before each admissions cycle.

What age range does The Elms Academy cover?

The Elms Academy is a secondary school in London, Lambeth, 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 Elms Academy?

The Elms Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2020. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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