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Original poster

Stupid question - how do I find out catchment area?

31 replies

ElizaPancakes · 19/09/2019 22:32

Or is that not really a thing? Is it just those that are closer are higher up the list than others?

Looks like our top choice school is potentially a couple of miles away, and considering we have three others much closer, now I've found another thing to worry about!

OP posts:
ArsenicChip · 19/09/2019 22:39

We have a theoretical catchment area, but in reality the distance from school is what matters because it is full long before area comes in to it.

BackforGood · 19/09/2019 22:37

DEpends where you are in the country.

Where I live, there is no 'Catchment Area' - as you say, they take pupils, when they get to that point on the admissions policy (ie, after LACs and SEN/D, and sometimes siblings or sometimes faith), purely in order of how far they live from the school. Therefore the "furthest point the last child was admitted from" varies year on year.

At the open evenings there is usually a map to show you how far away the last pupil was admitted from over the last 3 or 4 years.

"A couple of miles away" means nothing really - depends on how populated the area is, and so many other things.

popehilarious · 19/09/2019 22:37

"Catchment area" may not mean anything really if it goes by distance as it will depend how many in the year apply - if hardly anyone nearby applies then they'll be able to take pupils from further away until they reach their limit or number of people applying.

PatriciaHolm · 19/09/2019 22:36

You need to look at the exact admissions criteria for each school. Some may have specific catchment areas, many will not. Your local LEA site will probably have details with how places have been allocated in previous years so you can get an idea, for example, how far out the last pupil offered a place lived.

popehilarious · 19/09/2019 22:35

Go to your local council's website and the schools admissions section. They should have a list of the schools and their admissions policies which should help!

LadyFuschia · 19/09/2019 22:35

Is it in the council website? You can look at various bits of information on there regarding admissions.

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