Vandyke Upper School Catchment Area
Vandyke Upper School is an academy converter secondary school in Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire , serving pupils aged 13-18, with 1507 pupils, and a capacity of 1440 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
13-18
Age range
1,507
Pupils
1,440
Capacity
105%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2015
Vandyke Upper School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Vandyke Upper School?
The catchment area for Vandyke Upper School is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire 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. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Vandyke Upper School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Central Bedfordshire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
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Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Central Bedfordshire publishes the 2027 Vandyke Upper School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Central Bedfordshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Central Bedfordshire catchment area documents →Vandyke Upper School: at or above its 1440 place limit
Vandyke Upper School has a published admission number of 1440 places. 1507 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 105%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1440 places. Central Bedfordshire allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 14.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Leighton Buzzard.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Central Bedfordshire 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 Central Bedfordshire school admissions →
Vandyke Upper School: School Information
- Full address
- Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3DY
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 13-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 14.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 137169
Other Secondary Schools in Leighton Buzzard
If Vandyke Upper School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Vandyke Upper 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Vandyke Upper School
What is the catchment area for Vandyke Upper School? ▾
The catchment area for Vandyke Upper School is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire 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. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Vandyke Upper School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Vandyke Upper School currently has 1507 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1440 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Vandyke Upper School? ▾
Admission to Vandyke Upper School is managed by Central Bedfordshire. 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 Vandyke Upper School cover? ▾
Vandyke Upper School is a secondary school in Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire, serving pupils aged 13-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Vandyke Upper School? ▾
Vandyke Upper School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2015. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.