What did Ofsted judge Marsden Heights Community College's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Marsden Heights Community College's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in October 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Marsden Heights Community College?

Marsden Heights Community College has 1,047 pupils on roll.

What ages does Marsden Heights Community College take?

Marsden Heights Community College admits pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is Marsden Heights Community College located?

Marsden Heights Community College is located in Nelson, BB9 0PR, Lancashire.

How do I apply to Marsden Heights Community College?

Marsden Heights Community College is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How are Year 7 places decided at Marsden Heights Community College?

When Marsden Heights Community College has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children — Children who are "Looked after" by a Local Authority, or a child who was previously looked after but immediately following being looked after were subject to an adoption or residency order, including those from outside of England (see notes A and B); 2. Exceptional medical/social/welfare need — Children for whom the Governors accept there are exceptionally strong medical, social or welfare reasons for admission, which are directly relevant to the college (see note C); 3. Priority area with sibling — Children living within the college's geographical priority area with older brothers and sisters in attendance at the college at the time of transfer (see notes D-G), and 3 further criteria. The school offers 210 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applicants than available places within a category, then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the college and the home measured in a straight line will be used as the final determining factor, nearer address having priority over more distant ones. Where the cut-off point is for addresses within the same building, then the single measure between address points will apply and the Local Authority’s system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s).

What is the largest ethnic background at Marsden Heights Community College?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 83% of pupils at Marsden Heights Community College are recorded as Pakistani. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Marsden Heights Community College: Ofsted & Catchment 2026

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How places are decided at Marsden Heights Community College

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after children — Children who are "Looked after" by a Local Authority, or a child who was previously looked after but immediately following being looked after were subject to an adoption or residency order, including those from outside of England (see notes A and B).
2Exceptional medical/social/welfare need — Children for whom the Governors accept there are exceptionally strong medical, social or welfare reasons for admission, which are directly relevant to the college (see note C).
3Priority area with sibling — Children living within the college's geographical priority area with older brothers and sisters in attendance at the college at the time of transfer (see notes D-G).
4Priority area — Children living within the college’s geographical priority area (see notes E-G).
5Outside priority area with sibling — Children living outside of the college’s geographical priority area with older brothers and sisters in attendance at the time of transfer (see note D-G).
6Outside priority area — Children living outside the college’s geographical area (see note E-G).

If two applications tie: Where there are more applicants than available places within a category, then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the college and the home measured in a straight line will be used as the final determining factor, nearer address having priority over more distant ones. Where the cut-off point is for addresses within the same building, then the single measure between address points will apply and the Local Authority’s system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s).

After the admission of pupils with Education Health Care Plans (EHCP) where Marsden Heights Community College is named on the EHCP, the criteria will be applied in the order set out. Exceptions apply for on-time applications receiving priority over late ones, and for twins/triplets/multiple births where a place is offered above the PAN.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Marsden Heights Community College: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Marsden Heights Community College's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Marsden Heights Community College's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in October 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Marsden Heights Community College?: Marsden Heights Community College has 1,047 pupils on roll.
What ages does Marsden Heights Community College take?: Marsden Heights Community College admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is Marsden Heights Community College located?: Marsden Heights Community College is located in Nelson, BB9 0PR, Lancashire.
How do I apply to Marsden Heights Community College?: Marsden Heights Community College is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How are Year 7 places decided at Marsden Heights Community College?: When Marsden Heights Community College has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children — Children who are "Looked after" by a Local Authority, or a child who was previously looked after but immediately following being looked after were subject to an adoption or residency order, including those from outside of England (see notes A and B); 2. Exceptional medical/social/welfare need — Children for whom the Governors accept there are exceptionally strong medical, social or welfare reasons for admission, which are directly relevant to the college (see note C); 3. Priority area with sibling — Children living within the college's geographical priority area with older brothers and sisters in attendance at the college at the time of transfer (see notes D-G), and 3 further criteria. The school offers 210 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applicants than available places within a category, then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the college and the home measured in a straight line will be used as the final determining factor, nearer address having priority over more distant ones. Where the cut-off point is for addresses within the same building, then the single measure between address points will apply and the Local Authority’s system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s).
What is the largest ethnic background at Marsden Heights Community College?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 83% of pupils at Marsden Heights Community College are recorded as Pakistani. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How places are decided at Marsden Heights Community College

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after children — Children who are "Looked after" by a Local Authority, or a child who was previously looked after but immediately following being looked after were subject to an adoption or residency order, including those from outside of England (see notes A and B).
2Exceptional medical/social/welfare need — Children for whom the Governors accept there are exceptionally strong medical, social or welfare reasons for admission, which are directly relevant to the college (see note C).
3Priority area with sibling — Children living within the college's geographical priority area with older brothers and sisters in attendance at the college at the time of transfer (see notes D-G).
4Priority area — Children living within the college’s geographical priority area (see notes E-G).
5Outside priority area with sibling — Children living outside of the college’s geographical priority area with older brothers and sisters in attendance at the time of transfer (see note D-G).
6Outside priority area — Children living outside the college’s geographical area (see note E-G).

Marsden Heights Community College: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Marsden Heights Community College's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Marsden Heights Community College's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in October 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Marsden Heights Community College?: Marsden Heights Community College has 1,047 pupils on roll.
What ages does Marsden Heights Community College take?: Marsden Heights Community College admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is Marsden Heights Community College located?: Marsden Heights Community College is located in Nelson, BB9 0PR, Lancashire.
How do I apply to Marsden Heights Community College?: Marsden Heights Community College is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How are Year 7 places decided at Marsden Heights Community College?: When Marsden Heights Community College has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children — Children who are "Looked after" by a Local Authority, or a child who was previously looked after but immediately following being looked after were subject to an adoption or residency order, including those from outside of England (see notes A and B); 2. Exceptional medical/social/welfare need — Children for whom the Governors accept there are exceptionally strong medical, social or welfare reasons for admission, which are directly relevant to the college (see note C); 3. Priority area with sibling — Children living within the college's geographical priority area with older brothers and sisters in attendance at the college at the time of transfer (see notes D-G), and 3 further criteria. The school offers 210 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applicants than available places within a category, then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the college and the home measured in a straight line will be used as the final determining factor, nearer address having priority over more distant ones. Where the cut-off point is for addresses within the same building, then the single measure between address points will apply and the Local Authority’s system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s).
What is the largest ethnic background at Marsden Heights Community College?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 83% of pupils at Marsden Heights Community College are recorded as Pakistani. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Marsden Heights Community College

How places are decided at Marsden Heights Community College

Marsden Heights Community College: key facts

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Marsden Heights Community College

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How places are decided at Marsden Heights Community College

Marsden Heights Community College: key facts

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