Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

How is nearest school worked out?

22 replies

XxLondonxX · 19/12/2023 16:51

Hi, we are in the process of applying for a primary school. On our councils website the school we want most is our nearest in distance but where it days Nearest school? It's says no. The one listed as our nearest school is actually further away from us in distance. How is nearest school worked out if its not by distance? Is this possibly a mistake?

OP posts:

VisionsOfSplendour · 19/12/2023 17:00

In my county it's in a straight line door to door but I have no idea if everywhere is the same

Dacadactyl · 19/12/2023 17:02

Here it's in a straight line (so as the crow flies) from your front door to the school gate.

It should tell you in the pamphlet they give you/put online for you to read.

PatriciaHolm · 19/12/2023 17:15

It will be defined somewhere in the overall policies.

Often it's straight line distance to a specific point at the school from a central line in your home, sometimes it's safe walking distance, but it will be explained somewhere. Which LA is it? I can take a look if you like.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education

Newsenmum · 19/12/2023 17:15

Is it a religious school?

Dacadactyl · 19/12/2023 17:16

@Newsenmum I wouldn't have thought it mattered? Just wondering why you asked cos it doesn't make a difference round here. Every school distance measured the same way in this LA.

Fifthtimelucky · 19/12/2023 17:22

Yes. Each LA should have its own rule. It could be the nearest as the crow flies. But it could also be the nearest assuming that you are walking or driving along a road.

I remember once someone arguing with a particular LA about distance. They had taken the average of the journey to and from the school, but the LA went by the length of the journey to school (which was longer than the return journey because of the one-way system).

Fluffyc1ouds · 19/12/2023 17:27

The primary schools where I am have defined areas and you can view them on a map (somewhere on the council site). I don't think any mention of distance is made though, it's simply the catchment area.

I remember when I was a child I couldn't go to the school literally across the road because the catchment school for my street was a 30 minute walk away. Ridiculous really.

SatanClaws · 19/12/2023 17:31

It's as the crow flies but sometimes you can live in a dead zone where school catchments go in the opposite direction to what you expect them to. Apply for your chosen school in slot one, you may be surprised.

PuttingDownRoots · 19/12/2023 17:40

It might be a specific point in the school. Dies it say how far away it thinks you are, and does that make sense?

In one council area we lived, I had to pass several schools to get to the closest school... as Crows can fly over live firing ranges and children can't....

PlayerOneNotReady · 19/12/2023 17:53

At a highly over-subscribed school in the town where I used to live, the "nearest" school was worked out using walking distance from home. So someone who lived further away as the crow files could be in catchment because there was a footpath they could use. Have you tried calling the school and asking?

SatanClaws · 19/12/2023 17:57

In all honesty the only thing you can and should do for school applications is write your list in order of preference. Put no more thought into it than that.

Jules912 · 19/12/2023 18:16

Where I am it's as the crow flies, which creates some oddities. In some cases going to the closest by road ( or even footpath) made it quite a lot further due to a river or railway or both in the way. Fortunately we were also easily in catchment for the school that was closest by safe walking route.

Original poster

XxLondonxX · 19/12/2023 21:36

I think I've confused some people with my question. Basically our nearest school either walking or as the crow flies is not counted as our nearest school on the council website and just out of curiosity I'm wondering why.

OP posts:

Sunshineclouds11 · 19/12/2023 21:43

XxLondonxX · 19/12/2023 21:36

Catchment.

Our school has an estate directly opposite which isn't within the catchment area, madness really.

PuttingDownRoots · 19/12/2023 21:47

XxLondonxX · 19/12/2023 21:36

Definitely a State school? Plus mainstream? Infants?

Other reasons...
Your address is registered wrong
You are looking at the wrong point on the school grounds
The other school is actually closer.

Does the measurement make sense?

updownleftrightstart · 19/12/2023 21:48

I think it’s most likely your area just isn’t in the catchment for the nearest school

XmasPartyhat · 19/12/2023 21:49

Agree its to do with catchment areas.

My nearest school by catchment is not my nearest school by distance. I am not in the catchment area for my nearest school.

TiptoeTess · 19/12/2023 21:52

Does your LA operate purely on nearest or do they also operate catchments?

It should say somewhere how they measure nearest; it’s usually done from your door number / postcode to the school gate using a GIS mapping type software. It’s rare to have errors unless you live on a new build estate or similar, but not unheard of!

TiptoeTess · 19/12/2023 21:54

Other thoughts: is the one you think is your nearest selective in any way? It might have been lifted out of the results?

How much difference is there distance wise?

PuttingDownRoots · 19/12/2023 21:59

Could it be a Catholic school?

bastin · 19/12/2023 22:09

I've no idea

However, my DD goes to the nearest school but it isn't in our catchment area

Redwinesalt · 19/12/2023 23:33

What LA? If you ask on primary Ed board with the LA name you'll get the answer

Flip