Catchment area Purley/Kenley

[Gems30]

We are currently living at my parents in Purley as looking to buy a house in the next few months. Im confused about catchment areas. is there a map or some kind of information that tells you the schools in the catchment or is it a case of calling the schools when you find a house? Any info would be great thanks!

Croydon Council will tell you the distance of the furthest away successful candidate last year. Just call the education dept at the council. Catchment areas as such do not exist.

Thanks very much that's really helpful i'll take a look. Another question in terms of distance is that something you can measure or do you need to speak to the education dept again? I dont want to buy a house in no mans land so you must be near a school at some address. thanks again

Which schools are you looking at op?

thanks so much. Ok im looking at Hayes school in Kenley, my parents live in St james Road off the Godstone road which seems to be no mans land or near Roke maybe but heard that wasnt so good? I might wrong though as I havent lived here for years. Atwood or Gresham school but looking at some comments they look pretty tough to get into. is Beaumont or Reedham any good?

Ive just found a link on Croydon website which gives you the distance for the last few years. 2012 seems to be a popular year bringing the distance right down. You need to be living right next door to these schools to have any sort of chance!

Gems - for 2010 and 2011 you would have been fine for the Hayes. 2012 was ridiculously low for distance. Roke has had a hard time recently in that their latest ofsted wasn't that good. Thinking long term, Roke feeds into Riddlesdown (the Hayes doesn't have a feeder school). Atwood and Gresham are hard to get into - as you say you need to be living on top of the school. I have heard nothing bad about Beaumont and Reedham as you are probably aware is an indie school - again no bad reports. Croydon (like many london LAs) are so over subscribed (particularly with primary) that this year some schools were asked to provide a bulge. Not the schools you have mentioned but one positive of that is that dcs that have gone to the bulge schools - their siblings will also go.

Angeleyes thanks very much. Yes im not keen on Riddlesdown so thats out. What is Christchurch primary school like in Purley? What is a bulge?

Sorry another question , another area we are possibly looking at is Caterham, however might be a bit far due to the commuter belt. This is under Surrey Council ? Do you know what their admission policy is? Is it still based on distance? thanks v m everyone!