The Orchards Catchment Area
The Orchards is a free s special not applicable school in Stretford, Trafford , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 144 pupils, and a capacity of 149 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
3-11
Age range
144
Pupils
149
Capacity
97%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2019
The Orchards Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Orchards?
The catchment area for The Orchards is the geographic zone Trafford uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable 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. Trafford 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 Orchards is set by Trafford and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Trafford before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Trafford catchment area documents →The Orchards: 149 places, 97% filled: nearing capacity
The Orchards has a published admission number of 149 places. 144 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 149, Trafford'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. 57.2% of pupils at The Orchards 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 Stretford.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Trafford 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 Trafford school admissions →
The Orchards: School Information
- Full address
- Audley Avenue, Stretford, M32 9TG
- Local authority
- Trafford
- School type
- Free schools special
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 3-11 years
- Free school meals
- 57.2% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 142782
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to The Orchards 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 Orchards
What is the catchment area for The Orchards? ▾
The catchment area for The Orchards is the geographic zone Trafford uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable 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. Trafford publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Orchards oversubscribed? ▾
The Orchards is operating close to its capacity of 149 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 Orchards? ▾
Admission to The Orchards is managed by Trafford. 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 Orchards cover? ▾
The Orchards is a not applicable school in Stretford, Trafford, 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 Orchards? ▾
The Orchards was rated Good by Ofsted in 2019. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.