The Vale Primary Academy Catchment Area
The Vale Primary Academy is an academy converter primary school in Knottingley, Wakefield , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 218 pupils, and a capacity of 236 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
3-11
Age range
218
Pupils
236
Capacity
92%
Fill rate
The Vale Primary Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Vale Primary Academy?
The catchment area for The Vale Primary Academy is the geographic zone Wakefield 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. Wakefield publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, The Vale Primary Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Wakefield. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Get an alert if The Vale Primary Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Wakefield before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Wakefield catchment area documents →The Vale Primary Academy: 236 places, 92% filled: nearing capacity
The Vale Primary Academy has a published admission number of 236 places. 218 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 92%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 236, Wakefield'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. 22.4% of pupils at The Vale Primary Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Wakefield.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Wakefield 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. Wakefield Council school admissions (official) →
The Vale Primary Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Ferrybridge Road, Knottingley, WF11 8JF
- Local authority
- Wakefield
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 3-11 years
- Free school meals
- 22.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138332
Other Primary Schools in Knottingley
If The Vale Primary Academy is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Knottingley are the next closest alternatives.
Willow Green Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · WF11 8PT
Simpson's Lane Academy Catchment Area
Academy converter · WF11 0PJ
England Lane Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · WF11 0JA
Brotherton and Byram Community Primary Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · WF11 9HQ
St Botolphs CE Academy Catchment Area
Academy converter · WF11 9BT
Fairburn Community Primary School Catchment Area
Academy converter · WF11 9JY
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to The Vale Primary Academy 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.
Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery Catchment Area
Community school · Castleford · 3.8 miles away
Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School Catchment Area
Community school · Pontefract · 4.0 miles away
Whitley and Eggborough Community Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · Goole · 4.4 miles away
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: The Vale Primary Academy
What is the catchment area for The Vale Primary Academy? ▾
The catchment area for The Vale Primary Academy is the geographic zone Wakefield 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. Wakefield publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Vale Primary Academy oversubscribed? ▾
The Vale Primary Academy is operating close to its capacity of 236 places (92% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for The Vale Primary Academy? ▾
Admission to The Vale Primary Academy is managed by Wakefield. 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 Vale Primary Academy cover? ▾
The Vale Primary Academy is a primary school in Knottingley, Wakefield, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.