Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Help! Furthest distance schools calculation....

30 replies

BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 17:26

Been browsing through the council's secondary school info. DC is couple yrs away from secondary. Options locally are very limited. I had always assumed one of our "local" schools was a bearable back up plan (with the hope of a grammar/semi selective state if DC is motivated for 11+ etc.) BUT according to the furthest distance info...the "local" school which is 0.9 miles away (google maps) had furthest distance of 0.3 last yr!!!

Another thing...google maps vs gov.uk website? Which is more accurate?

E.g a more desirable school we had in mind is 4.4miles away (google) and 2.9 miles away (gov.uk schools comparison site!) !?!?

I suddenly feel like we're going to have to move house to stand a chance at a decent school. 😞

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 05/11/2022 17:29

The LA will state somewhere what software they use to calculate distances. It’s often hidden away on the website!

Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 17:33

Soontobe60 · 05/11/2022 17:29

The LA will state somewhere what software they use to calculate distances. It’s often hidden away on the website!

ohhh will dig further...

OP posts:
Seeline · 05/11/2022 17:34

Sometimes the distance is calculated in a very specific way - can be to a particular entrance point, or footpaths can be included etc

GolfForBrains · 05/11/2022 17:34

Google is probably giving you the driving distance which is no help if your school admissions criteria are based on "as the crow flies". You will need to check each school's criteria to see how they calculate it (and where the end point is).

Our LA (Surrey) has a search page on their website which lets you search for schools in your area and calculates the as the crow flies distance using their software so you know. Worth looking for similar on yours?

LittleBearPad · 05/11/2022 17:35

Other local authorities do walking distance.

Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 17:35

GolfForBrains · 05/11/2022 17:34

Google is probably giving you the driving distance which is no help if your school admissions criteria are based on "as the crow flies". You will need to check each school's criteria to see how they calculate it (and where the end point is).

Our LA (Surrey) has a search page on their website which lets you search for schools in your area and calculates the as the crow flies distance using their software so you know. Worth looking for similar on yours?

Oh that would be soooo helpful!
Haven't seen anything like that but will have another look!

OP posts:
Cheesybiscuitsmineallmine · 05/11/2022 17:39

Ring them and ask. We had this issue and they were very helpful.

LockInAtTheFeathers · 05/11/2022 17:47

Most LAs (including mine) use straight line distance, so I've just googled a straight line distance calculator and put the postcodes in to get an approximate measurement (though obviously the official distance would be more accurate!). Some use shortest walking route, however, which can be more complicated as to whether certain footpaths count, etc. If you give the name of the LA I'm sure some on here can tell you which method they use Smile

Mumteedum · 05/11/2022 17:56

Don't make my mistake and think it's all about distance. I live 1.4 miles from school I wanted BUT DS went to a primary that fed into a different school. THIS was much more important for the school we wanted.

As an only child it was hard too and because circumstances so likely I did my best and that was that...but I do wish I'd realised sooner.

Check individual school criteria.

It's kids in care, siblings, catchment/feeder school....then a free for all on distance after all other criteria here.

Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 18:53

Cheesybiscuitsmineallmine · 05/11/2022 17:39

Ring them and ask. We had this issue and they were very helpful.

oh brill will do! thanks

OP posts:
Wigeon · 05/11/2022 18:59

Our council has a calculator on their schools admissions page where you can put in your address and it tells you how many meters away you are from the closest 10 schools, according to their definition of distance. Does your council have anything similar? It’s under “find a school” on the admissions pages.

Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 19:14

Our council doesn't have a calculator but I just tried a neighboring council's website and it still gave me the info (while telling me I didn't meet the criteria for that borough lol)! At least I have a list of 10 closest schools (in metres). Thanks for the advice. Now to decide on whether to plan a house move!!! Options for secondary are not great!

OP posts:
Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 19:17

Mumteedum · 05/11/2022 17:56

Don't make my mistake and think it's all about distance. I live 1.4 miles from school I wanted BUT DS went to a primary that fed into a different school. THIS was much more important for the school we wanted.

As an only child it was hard too and because circumstances so likely I did my best and that was that...but I do wish I'd realised sooner.

Check individual school criteria.

It's kids in care, siblings, catchment/feeder school....then a free for all on distance after all other criteria here.

Hope it worked out for you!

Yes distance is the last criteria for most of them (and only one we meet). One of the schools filled 50% places with siblings alone last year!?!?!

OP posts:
Wigeon · 05/11/2022 20:16

Ah, but OP different councils have different definitions of “distance” - some are “crow flies”, sone are walking route, and what routes they count as being a possible walking route could vary, and with big secondaries and close margins re entry distances it might make a difference where specifically on the school site they manage the distance to. So you can’t necessarily rely on another council’s calculator. I’d definitely check with the council where you live about how best to calculate your distances accurately.

Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 20:25

Wigeon · 05/11/2022 20:16

Ah, but OP different councils have different definitions of “distance” - some are “crow flies”, sone are walking route, and what routes they count as being a possible walking route could vary, and with big secondaries and close margins re entry distances it might make a difference where specifically on the school site they manage the distance to. So you can’t necessarily rely on another council’s calculator. I’d definitely check with the council where you live about how best to calculate your distances accurately.

oh gosh! ok thanks for this. Will defo contact them and get more info. Thank goodness I have couple years to figure this out! LOL

OP posts:
Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 20:30

mmm two schools just say "straight line from home to front gates of school" no specific mention of crows/walking!

OP posts:
LockInAtTheFeathers · 05/11/2022 20:38

BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 20:30

mmm two schools just say "straight line from home to front gates of school" no specific mention of crows/walking!

That will be as the crow flies/straight line distance then, which is the one most commonly used. I think it is usual for all schools in each LA to use the same method of measuring distance (whether that is straight line or shortest walking route), so that probably means that your LA uses straight line distance, but I'm prepared to be corrected here!

Wigeon · 05/11/2022 20:45

Yes, “as the crow flies” is the colloquial expression for straight line distance.

Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 20:46

LockInAtTheFeathers · 05/11/2022 20:38

That will be as the crow flies/straight line distance then, which is the one most commonly used. I think it is usual for all schools in each LA to use the same method of measuring distance (whether that is straight line or shortest walking route), so that probably means that your LA uses straight line distance, but I'm prepared to be corrected here!

Show quote history

Yes I think you're right as I have seen most schools stating straight line when I check their admissions individually. I knew that primary was tough with tiny catchments but I am surprised at secondary!

OP posts:
Original poster
BlackthornBerry · 05/11/2022 20:47

Wigeon · 05/11/2022 20:45

Yes, “as the crow flies” is the colloquial expression for straight line distance.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Feetache · 05/11/2022 23:39

Where we are it's all crow flies. So due to river and roads a good chunk of the kids have a 20 min car ride or two buses whereas kids on a ten min fast train line wouldn't get in. There's some free mapping tools around - failing that print off a map and get ruler out

POTC · 06/11/2022 00:03

When you say you have a couple of years - don't forget that applications for secondary school have to be in by end of October in yr6 and that if you do decide to move you'll need to be in that new address before submitting the application for it to count!

BendingSpoons · 06/11/2022 07:50

It is also worth mentioning birth rates. Around 2010/2011 was apparently a peak of babies being born. If you still have a few years, there may be slightly less pressure on places. Although of course other factors influence and some areas are having lots of people move in to the area.

SuperCamp · 06/11/2022 08:04

The ‘last distance’ shown also refers to the last distance offered on National Offer Day. Once the waiting list has moved a bit the distance may be a little wider.

Don’t be too disheartened by the siblings numbers: they are also highly likely to be ‘in distance’ kids.

Have you visited the schools? Liked specifically at provision for and progress of children of your DC’s ability band?

ThanksItHasPockets · 06/11/2022 09:58

As pp have said you need to check straight line distances with the local authority but remember too that there is a bulge in the birth rate from 2010-12 which is currently placing additional pressure on secondary school places. The birth rate started to decline from 2013 so you might find it eases off a bit if your child is due to start in Sep 25 or thereafter.

I also hate to be that person but if ‘a couple of years away’ means year 4 or year 5 you would need to start thinking about grammar school prep fairly soon.