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catchment.school

The Grove Junior School Catchment Area

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

The Grove Junior School is a community primary school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire , serving pupils aged 7-11, with 355 pupils, and a capacity of 360 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

7-11

Age range

355

Pupils

360

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2013

The Grove Junior School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Grove Junior School?

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

The catchment area for The Grove Junior School is set by Hertfordshire and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.

Operating near capacity: 99% 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 Grove Junior School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

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

Find Hertfordshire catchment area documents →

The Grove Junior School: 360 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

The Grove Junior School has a published admission number of 360 places. 355 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 360, Hertfordshire'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. 9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Harpenden.

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

Hertfordshire 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. Hertfordshire Council school admissions (official) →

The Grove Junior School: School Information

Full address
Dark Lane, Harpenden, AL5 1QB
Local authority
Hertfordshire
School type
Community school
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
7-11 years
Free school meals
9% of pupils
DfE URN
117258

Other Primary Schools in Harpenden

If The Grove Junior School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Harpenden are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to The Grove Junior 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 Grove Junior School

What is the catchment area for The Grove Junior School?

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

Is The Grove Junior School oversubscribed?

The Grove Junior School is operating close to its capacity of 360 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for The Grove Junior School?

Admission to The Grove Junior School is managed by Hertfordshire. 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 Grove Junior School cover?

The Grove Junior School is a primary school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, serving pupils aged 7-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for The Grove Junior School?

The Grove Junior School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2013. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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