Calculator

School Distance Calculator

Work out the straight-line distance between a home and a school, and see whether it falls within a catchment radius you choose. Useful when checking admissions or planning a move.

How to enter locations

Type a UK postcode and press Look up — we'll fill in the latitude and longitude for you using postcodes.io, a free open-data service. You can also enter coordinates directly. Distances are measured in a straight line, so they are shorter than the route you would actually travel.

Always check official admissions criteria

Distance is only one part of how school places are allocated, and the method varies by school and local authority. Some use straight-line distance, others use walking or driving routes, and many apply additional rules such as siblings, faith criteria or designated catchment boundaries. Always confirm the current policy with the school and your local authority before making decisions.

How we calculate this

We use the Haversine formula to measure the straight-line distance between two coordinates on the surface of the Earth, then convert it between miles and kilometres. The optional postcode lookup calls postcodes.io to turn a UK postcode into a latitude and longitude — only the postcode is sent.

We do not attempt to model walking routes, drivable distance, or any specific school's admissions method. Many local authorities use straight-line distance; some use walking routes. Always confirm the policy with the school and local authority.

What is straight-line distance?

Straight-line distance — often called "as the crow flies" — is the shortest distance between two points, ignoring roads, paths and obstacles. This calculator uses the Haversine formula, which accounts for the curve of the Earth, to measure the distance between your home coordinates and a school's coordinates. Because it follows a straight line, the figure will usually be shorter than the distance you would actually walk or drive.

Why school distance matters

When a school has more applications than places, it has to decide who is offered a place using published admissions criteria. Distance from home to school is one of the most common tie-breakers, so families living closer often have a better chance. Distance also shapes daily life: a shorter trip means less time and money spent on the school run, and more flexibility on busy mornings.

Example calculation

Suppose your home is at latitude 51.5074, longitude -0.1278, and the school is at 51.5155, -0.0922. The straight-line distance works out at roughly 1.6 miles (about 2.6 km). If you set a 3-mile radius, the school would fall comfortably inside it — but you would still need to check the school's real catchment and last year's cut-off distance.

Why official admissions policies must be checked

Admissions rules are set by each school and local authority and can change every year. The measuring method, the order of criteria and the actual cut-off distance all vary, and a home that was inside the catchment one year may be outside it the next. Use this tool to get a feel for distances, then read the current admissions policy and recent cut-off distances from the official source before making decisions. You can learn more in our guide to how school distance is measured.

Frequently asked questions

Is straight-line distance the same as how my school measures it?

Not always. Many local authorities use straight-line ('as the crow flies') distance, but some measure the shortest safe walking route instead, which can be longer. Always confirm the exact method with the school and your local authority.

Where do I find latitude and longitude for an address?

In most online maps you can right-click a point and copy the coordinates, or search for a postcode and read the latitude and longitude from the URL or info panel. Enter the home and school coordinates into the calculator.

Does being within the radius guarantee a place?

No. Distance is only one of several admissions criteria, which often include siblings already at the school, faith requirements and designated catchment boundaries. A place is never guaranteed by distance alone.

Why do the miles and kilometres differ from my car's route?

This tool measures a straight line between two points, not the driving or walking route. Your actual travel distance will usually be longer because roads and paths rarely go in a straight line.