Calculator

School Radius Map

Visualise how a home sits within a chosen radius of a school. Enter both locations by postcode or coordinates, pick a radius, and see the straight-line distance and a simple diagram.

How this works

Enter the school and home locations by UK postcode (press Look up) or coordinates, choose a radius, and we'll show the straight-line distance and a simple radius diagram. The diagram is a schematic, not a road map, and distances are straight-line.

A radius is not a catchment

Drawing a radius helps you focus a search, but it does not reflect a school's real catchment boundary or guarantee a place. Catchments are rarely circular and change year to year. Always confirm the current admissions policy and distance method with the school and your local authority. See our UK school data sources for where to check.

How we calculate this

Distance is the straight-line (great-circle) distance between the two points, using the Haversine formula, shown in miles and kilometres. Postcode lookup uses postcodes.io.

The diagram is a schematic: it plots the home relative to the school using simple east/north offsets and draws your chosen radius as a circle. It is not a geographic map and does not model roads. A real map layer (e.g. Leaflet with free OpenStreetMap tiles) can be added later without changing the calculation.

Why visualise a school radius?

When you are searching for a home around a particular school, it helps to see how far out you can realistically look. Setting a radius turns an open-ended map into a clear boundary: homes inside the circle are worth considering, and everything outside is a deliberate exception. This tool gives you that picture quickly from a postcode or a set of coordinates.

What a radius can and cannot tell you

A radius is a planning device, not an admissions rule. Real catchments are set by each school or local authority, are rarely circular, and can move year to year depending on how many families apply. Use the radius to focus your search, then read the school's current admissions policy and recent cut-off distances before relying on it. Our guide to school radius planning explains how to do this well.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a real map?

Not yet. To keep the tool fast, free and dependency-light, it shows a clean schematic diagram of the radius and the home position rather than a tiled map. A geographic map using free OpenStreetMap tiles can be added later without changing how the tool works.

Does the radius show the school's catchment?

No. A radius is a planning circle you choose. Real catchments are rarely circular, are set by the school or local authority, and change year to year. Use the radius to focus a search, then verify the official catchment and admissions policy.

Why is the distance shorter than my drive?

The tool measures a straight line between two points. Your real walking or driving route will almost always be longer because roads and paths do not run in a straight line.