How to Find Schools Near Your Postcode

Whether you are moving across the country or across town, the schools within reach of a postcode often shape the decision more than the house itself. The good news is that the official information is public and free — you just need to know where to look and how to interpret what you find.

Step 1: Start from the right postcode

Decide which location anchors your search. Usually it is a prospective home, but it can be a workplace or a relative's address you need to stay close to. Be precise: a single postcode can sit on the edge of a catchment, so the exact point matters once you get to the detail.

Step 2: Choose a sensible radius

Match the radius to the phase of schooling. For primary schools, many families want a short walk, so 1–3 miles is realistic. For secondary and selective schools, 5–10 miles is more typical. You can set up exactly this kind of search with our Find Schools Near a Postcode tool, then visualise it with the School Radius Map.

Step 3: Use official sources to list schools

For England, the Department for Education's Get Information about Schools service is the official register. Your local council's admissions pages list the schools it is responsible for and explain how to apply. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own sources. We list them all on our UK school data sources page.

Step 4: Check the real distance to each shortlisted school

Once you have a shortlist, check how far each school actually is from your postcode using the School Distance Calculator. Remember it measures a straight line, so the figure is shorter than the route you would walk or drive. Read our guide on how school distance is measured to understand why the method matters.

The limits of a distance check

A distance check tells you proximity, not priority. Schools allocate places using published criteria that often rank looked-after children, siblings, faith and designated catchment above distance. Being close helps at the margins; it never guarantees a place.

What to verify before relying on it

• The current admissions policy for each shortlisted school.
• Whether distance is measured in a straight line or by walking route.
• Recent cut-off distances, treated as a rough guide only.
• Application windows and deadlines, which differ by phase and area.
• Whether the address falls in the school's designated catchment.