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The St Thomas the Apostle College Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

The St Thomas the Apostle College is a voluntary aided secondary school in London, Southwark , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1111 pupils, and a capacity of 1000 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,111

Pupils

1,000

Capacity

111%

Fill rate

Outstanding

Ofsted 2018

The St Thomas the Apostle College Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The St Thomas the Apostle College?

The catchment area for The St Thomas the Apostle College is the geographic zone Southwark 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Southwark publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to The St Thomas the Apostle College is managed by Southwark and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.

Currently oversubscribed: 1111 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1000 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Southwark publishes the 2027 The St Thomas the Apostle College numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Southwark before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Southwark catchment area documents →

The St Thomas the Apostle College: heavily oversubscribed at 111% capacity

The St Thomas the Apostle College has a published admission number of 1000 places. 1111 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 111%. At 111% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Southwark allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 46.8% of pupils at The St Thomas the Apostle College 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 London.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Southwark 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 Southwark school admissions →

The St Thomas the Apostle College: School Information

Full address
Hollydale Road, Nunhead, London, SE15 2EB
Local authority
Southwark
School type
Voluntary aided school
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Gender
Boys
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
46.8% of pupils
DfE URN
100857

Other Secondary Schools in London

If The St Thomas the Apostle College is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in London are the next closest alternatives.

Other Roman Catholic Schools in Southwark

The St Thomas the Apostle College shares its religious character with these Roman Catholic schools across Southwark. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The St Thomas the Apostle College 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: The St Thomas the Apostle College

What is the catchment area for The St Thomas the Apostle College?

The catchment area for The St Thomas the Apostle College is the geographic zone Southwark 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Southwark publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is The St Thomas the Apostle College oversubscribed?

Yes, The St Thomas the Apostle College currently has 1111 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1000 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for The St Thomas the Apostle College?

The St Thomas the Apostle College uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Southwark before each admissions cycle.

What age range does The St Thomas the Apostle College cover?

The St Thomas the Apostle College is a secondary school in London, Southwark, 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 St Thomas the Apostle College?

The St Thomas the Apostle College was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2018. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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