School Catchment Checker
Find primary and secondary schools near any UK postcode. See Ofsted ratings, school types, and distances — sourced from the DfE register.
Understanding school catchments in the UK
School catchment areas determine which state schools your child is eligible to apply to based on your home address. In England, most local authorities use straight-line distance or defined catchment boundaries as the primary admission criterion when schools are oversubscribed. Catchments can change year to year depending on demand, so checking with the local authority admissions team is always the most reliable approach.
This tool shows open schools within approximately 3 km of the postcode centre, along with their Ofsted rating and school type. Being close to a school does not guarantee a place — many popular schools have catchments smaller than 1 km in competitive areas. Independent (fee-paying) schools are included in the DfE register but do not use catchment-based admissions.
Ofsted ratings reflect the most recent inspection. Schools rated Outstanding are inspected less frequently, so a rating may be several years old. Always check the full Ofsted report and the school's own admissions policy before making property decisions based on school proximity.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I find out if a property is in a school's catchment area?
- The most reliable method is to contact the local authority admissions team directly and provide the full property address. Many councils also publish admission distance data from previous years, showing the furthest distance a child was offered a place — this gives a practical guide to whether a property falls within the effective catchment. This tool shows nearby schools as a starting point, but proximity alone does not confirm a place.
- Can catchment areas change from year to year?
- Yes. Catchment boundaries and admission distances change annually based on the number of applications and the capacity of the school. A property that fell within catchment one year may not do so the next, particularly if the school becomes more popular or birth rates in the area increase. Always check with the admissions authority for the current academic year.
- What does the Ofsted rating mean?
- Ofsted inspects state-funded schools in England and rates them Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Outstanding schools are inspected less frequently — some ratings are several years old. A Good rating is the standard expectation. Schools rated Requires Improvement or Inadequate are subject to more frequent monitoring and are expected to improve. You can read the full inspection report on the Ofsted website.
- Does this tool cover Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
- This tool uses the DfE Get Information About Schools register, which covers England only. Scotland uses the Scottish Government's school statistics. Wales uses the Hwb data and local authority admissions. Northern Ireland uses the Education Authority NI. For properties outside England, contact the relevant local authority for school information.
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