The Reach Free School Catchment Area
The Reach Free School is a free s secondary school in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 753 pupils, and a capacity of 840 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-18
Age range
753
Pupils
840
Capacity
90%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2019
The Reach Free School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Reach Free School?
The catchment area for The Reach Free 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 Reach Free 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 Reach Free 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 Reach Free School: 840 places, 90% filled: nearing capacity
The Reach Free School has a published admission number of 840 places. 753 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 90%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 840, 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. 20.7% of pupils at The Reach Free 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 Reach Free School: School Information
- Full address
- Long Lane, Rickmansworth, WD3 8AB
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- School type
- Free schools
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 20.7% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 139662
Other Secondary Schools in Rickmansworth
If The Reach Free School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Rickmansworth are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to The Reach Free 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 Reach Free School
What is the catchment area for The Reach Free School? ▾
The catchment area for The Reach Free 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 Reach Free School oversubscribed? ▾
The Reach Free School is operating close to its capacity of 840 places (90% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for The Reach Free School? ▾
Admission to The Reach Free 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 Reach Free School cover? ▾
The Reach Free School is a secondary school in Rickmansworth, 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 Reach Free School? ▾
The Reach Free School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2019. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.