The Orchard Primary School Catchment Area
The Orchard Primary School is an academy converter primary school in Watford, Hertfordshire , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 435 pupils, and a capacity of 450 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
3-11
Age range
435
Pupils
450
Capacity
97%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2011
The Orchard Primary School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Orchard Primary School?
The catchment area for The Orchard Primary 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.
As an academy, The Orchard Primary School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Hertfordshire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Get an alert if The Orchard Primary 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 Orchard Primary School: 450 places, 97% filled: nearing capacity
The Orchard Primary School has a published admission number of 450 places. 435 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 97%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 450, 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. 18% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Watford.
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 Orchard Primary School: School Information
- Full address
- Gammons Lane, Watford, WD24 5JW
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 3-11 years
- Free school meals
- 18% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 145352
Other Primary Schools in Watford
If The Orchard Primary School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Watford are the next closest alternatives.
Central Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · WD17 2LX
Chater Junior School Catchment Area
Community school · WD18 0WN
Chater Infant School Catchment Area
Community school · WD18 7RD
Field Junior School Catchment Area
Community school · WD18 0AZ
Watford Field School (Infant & Nursery) Catchment Area
Community school · WD18 0WF
Parkgate Junior School Catchment Area
Community school · WD24 7DN
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to The Orchard Primary 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 Orchard Primary School
What is the catchment area for The Orchard Primary School? ▾
The catchment area for The Orchard Primary 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 Orchard Primary School oversubscribed? ▾
The Orchard Primary School is operating close to its capacity of 450 places (97% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for The Orchard Primary School? ▾
Admission to The Orchard Primary 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 Orchard Primary School cover? ▾
The Orchard Primary School is a primary school in Watford, Hertfordshire, 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 Orchard Primary School? ▾
The Orchard Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2011. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.