The Priory School Catchment Area
The Priory School is a foundation secondary school in Hitchin, Hertfordshire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1242 pupils, and a capacity of 1300 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-18
Age range
1,242
Pupils
1,300
Capacity
96%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2013
The Priory School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Priory School?
The catchment area for The Priory School is the geographic zone Hertfordshire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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.
Secondary school places at The Priory School are allocated by Hertfordshire using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.
Get an alert if The Priory 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 Priory School: 1300 places, 96% filled: nearing capacity
The Priory School has a published admission number of 1300 places. 1242 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 96%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1300, 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. 23.2% of pupils at The Priory School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Hertfordshire.
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 Priory School: School Information
- Full address
- Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 2UR
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- School type
- Foundation school
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 23.2% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 117499
Other Secondary Schools in Hitchin
If The Priory School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Hitchin are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to The Priory 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 Priory School
What is the catchment area for The Priory School? ▾
The catchment area for The Priory School is the geographic zone Hertfordshire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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 Priory School oversubscribed? ▾
The Priory School is operating close to its capacity of 1300 places (96% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for The Priory School? ▾
Admission to The Priory 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 Priory School cover? ▾
The Priory School is a secondary school in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Priory School? ▾
The Priory School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2013. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.