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Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery Catchment Area

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

Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery is a foundation primary school in Loughton, Essex , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 487 pupils, and a capacity of 420 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

3-11

Age range

487

Pupils

420

Capacity

116%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2017

Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery?

The catchment area for Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery is the geographic zone Essex 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. Essex 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 Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery is set by Essex and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.

Currently oversubscribed: 487 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 420 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 Essex publishes the 2027 Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery numbers →

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

Find Essex catchment area documents →

Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery: heavily oversubscribed at 116% capacity

Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery has a published admission number of 420 places. 487 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 116%. At 116% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Essex 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. 29.2% of pupils at Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Essex.

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

Essex 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. Essex Council school admissions (official) →

Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery: School Information

Full address
The Broadway, Loughton, IG10 3SR
Local authority
Essex
School type
Foundation school
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
3-11 years
Free school meals
29.2% of pupils
DfE URN
115309

Other Primary Schools in Loughton

If Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Loughton are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery 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: Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery

What is the catchment area for Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery?

The catchment area for Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery is the geographic zone Essex 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. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery oversubscribed?

Yes, Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery currently has 487 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 420 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery?

Admission to Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery is managed by Essex. 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 Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery cover?

Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery is a primary school in Loughton, Essex, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery?

Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery was rated Good by Ofsted in 2017. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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