Catchment Confusion? How Admissions Really Work (and What to Do About It)

Joe Pardoe
May 12
2 min read

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is:

“Will I get in if I live in the catchment area?”

Unfortunately, the answer is… “it depends.”

The school admissions process is full of terms that sound clear but are actually more complex than they first appear. So in this blog, we’ll break it all down — clearly and calmly — so you can understand how it really works and make confident choices.

🏡 What Is a Catchment Area?

A catchment area is a geographic zone set by the local authority or school which gives children in that area priority when allocating places.

BUT:

Not all schools have official catchment areas.
Living in the catchment doesn’t guarantee a place.
Living outside the catchment doesn’t automatically rule you out.

Some schools use distance instead of a set boundary, others have priority zones that change each year depending on applications.

🧾 What Are Admissions Criteria?

Each school sets out a list of priorities to determine how places are offered. These can include (in rough order of priority):

Looked-after children
Children with an EHCP
Siblings of current pupils
Children in the catchment (sometimes with distance considered)
Children of staff
All other applicants, ranked by distance

Faith schools may also consider:

Church attendance
Baptism certificates
Supplementary forms

👉 You can find the exact criteria in each school’s admissions policy — usually on the school or council website.

📏 How Does Distance Work?

If a school has places available it doesn't really matter. With falling births in most areas, this will be the case for more and more parents. However, if a school is oversubscribed, they often use distance as a tiebreaker — either “as the crow flies” or based on walking routes.

This means:

Living closer increases your chances
There is no set “cut-off distance” — it changes each year depending on how many people apply and where they live

Some councils publish historical cut-off distances, which can give you a rough idea — but it’s not a guarantee.

⚠️ Common Myths (Debunked!)

❌ “I have to put the same school down three times to show I’m serious.” Definitely not! That’s a waste of your preferences.

❌ “It’s better to only list the school I want — otherwise they’ll think I don’t really want it.” Listing one school is risky — if you don’t get it, you’ll be allocated wherever has space, which may not suit your family at all.

✅ What Should I Do?

Check the school’s admissions policy carefully.
Look at historical admissions data (if available).
Use all your preferences.
Don’t panic if you're slightly outside a catchment - you might still get in.