The Prince of Wales School Catchment Area
The Prince of Wales School is a community primary school in Dorchester, Dorset , serving pupils aged 2-9, with 156 pupils, and a capacity of 150 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
2-9
Age range
156
Pupils
150
Capacity
104%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2018
The Prince of Wales School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Prince of Wales School?
The catchment area for The Prince of Wales School is the geographic zone Dorset 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. Dorset 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 Prince of Wales School is set by Dorset and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Dorset publishes the 2027 The Prince of Wales School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Dorset before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Dorset catchment area documents →The Prince of Wales School: at or above its 150 place limit
The Prince of Wales School has a published admission number of 150 places. 156 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 104%. The school is at or above its published limit of 150 places. Dorset 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. 12.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Dorchester.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Dorset 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. Dorset Council school admissions (official) →
The Prince of Wales School: School Information
- Full address
- Maiden Castle Road, Dorchester, DT1 2HH
- Local authority
- Dorset
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 2-9 years
- Free school meals
- 12.2% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 113747
Other Primary Schools in Dorchester
If The Prince of Wales School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Dorchester are the next closest alternatives.
Broadmayne First School Catchment Area
Community school · DT2 8PH
Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School Catchment Area
Voluntary controlled school · DT2 7LA
Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary controlled school · DT2 0AX
Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · DT2 0JP
Thorner's Church of England School, Litton Cheney Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · DT2 9AU
Winterbourne Valley Church of England Aided First School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · DT2 9LW
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to The Prince of Wales 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 Prince of Wales School
What is the catchment area for The Prince of Wales School? ▾
The catchment area for The Prince of Wales School is the geographic zone Dorset 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. Dorset publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Prince of Wales School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, The Prince of Wales School currently has 156 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 150 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for The Prince of Wales School? ▾
Admission to The Prince of Wales School is managed by Dorset. 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 Prince of Wales School cover? ▾
The Prince of Wales School is a primary school in Dorchester, Dorset, serving pupils aged 2-9. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Prince of Wales School? ▾
The Prince of Wales School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2018. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.