The Ferns Primary Academy Catchment Area
The Ferns Primary Academy is an academy sponsor led primary school in Bolton , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 450 pupils, and a capacity of 420 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-11
Age range
450
Pupils
420
Capacity
107%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2016
The Ferns Primary Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Ferns Primary Academy?
The catchment area for The Ferns Primary Academy is the geographic zone Bolton uses to prioritise admissions when this primary 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. Bolton 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 Ferns Primary Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bolton. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Bolton publishes the 2027 The Ferns Primary Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bolton before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Bolton catchment area documents →The Ferns Primary Academy: at or above its 420 place limit
The Ferns Primary Academy has a published admission number of 420 places. 450 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 107%. The school is at or above its published limit of 420 places. Bolton 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. 36.3% of pupils at The Ferns Primary Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Bolton.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Bolton 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 Bolton school admissions →
The Ferns Primary Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Plodder Lane, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0DA
- Local authority
- Bolton
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 3-11 years
- Free school meals
- 36.3% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138399
Other Primary Schools in Bolton
If The Ferns Primary Academy is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Bolton are the next closest alternatives.
Brandwood Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · BL3 4BG
Brownlow Fold Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · BL1 3DX
Castle Hill Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · BL2 2JT
Church Road Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · BL1 5RU
Clarendon Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · BL3 6SN
Devonshire Road Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · BL1 4ND
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to The Ferns Primary 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: The Ferns Primary Academy
What is the catchment area for The Ferns Primary Academy? ▾
The catchment area for The Ferns Primary Academy is the geographic zone Bolton uses to prioritise admissions when this primary 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. Bolton publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Ferns Primary Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, The Ferns Primary Academy currently has 450 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 420 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for The Ferns Primary Academy? ▾
Admission to The Ferns Primary Academy is managed by Bolton. 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 Ferns Primary Academy cover? ▾
The Ferns Primary Academy is a primary school in Bolton, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Ferns Primary Academy? ▾
The Ferns Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2016. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.