Guide · 7 min read
How to Check If a House Is Near a School Before You Move
Before you fall for a house, it pays to check exactly how close it is to the schools you care about — and to know the difference between 'near' and 'in catchment'.
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"Close to good schools" is one of the most common phrases in property listings, and one of the easiest to misread. Before you make an offer, it is worth turning that vague claim into a real number — and understanding what the number does and does not mean.
Step 1: Measure the straight-line distance
Start with the quickest check: the straight-line distance between the house and the school. Enter both postcodes into the School Distance Calculator to get the figure in miles and kilometres, and to see whether it falls within a radius you choose. The School Radius Map shows the same thing visually.
Step 2: Check the real route, not just the line
Straight-line distance ignores rivers, railways and main roads. A house that looks 0.8 miles from a school as the crow flies might be a 1.5-mile walk if there is no direct path. Check the actual walking and driving route on a maps service, and ideally try the school run at the time you would really do it.
Step 3: Separate ‘near’ from ‘in catchment’
Being near a school is not the same as being able to get a place there. Distance is only one admissions criterion, and a designated catchment is a specific boundary that may not match how close a house feels. Our guide on catchment area vs distance explains the difference, and how school distance is measured covers the methods authorities use.
The limits of a distance check
A distance check is a useful filter, not a decision. It cannot tell you the order of admissions criteria, this year's number of applicants, or whether the catchment will shift before your child applies. Use it to rule houses in or out quickly, then verify the schools that survive the shortlist.
What to verify before you make an offer
- The current admissions policy and distance method for the school.
- Recent cut-off distances for the specific address, as a guide only.
- The real walking and driving route and time, not just the straight line.
- Whether the property is inside any designated catchment boundary.
- Application deadlines that might affect your moving timeline.
Verify before you commit
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the distance from a house to a school?
Look up both postcodes, then measure the straight-line distance between them. Our School Distance Calculator does this and tells you whether it falls within a radius you choose. Then check the real walking and driving route separately.
Is straight-line distance what the school uses?
Sometimes. Many local authorities use straight-line distance, but some use the shortest safe walking route, which is longer. Always confirm the exact method in the school's admissions policy.
An estate agent says a house is 'in catchment' — can I trust that?
Treat it as a prompt to verify, not a fact. Catchments change year to year and listings can be out of date or optimistic. Confirm the current position with the school and local authority before you rely on it.
Related tools
Put numbers behind your decision with our free calculators.
School Distance Calculator
Work out the straight-line distance between a home and a school, and check whether it falls within a chosen catchment radius.
Useful for: Parents checking school catchment areas before they move or apply.
Open calculatorFind Schools Near a Postcode
Enter a UK postcode and radius to find schools nearby, ranked by straight-line distance. Uses the official DfE register for England, with OpenStreetMap as a fallback.
Useful for: Families starting a school search from a home or work postcode.
Open calculatorSchool Radius Map
Set a school location, a home postcode and a radius to see the straight-line distance and a simple radius diagram for planning a move.
Useful for: Anyone visualising how a home sits within a school catchment radius.
Open calculatorCompare Two Postcodes
Compare two postcodes side by side for distance to a school, distance to work and estimated commute cost, with a transparent planning score.
Useful for: Families weighing two locations for the same school and workplace.
Open calculatorCommute Cost Calculator
Estimate the daily, monthly and annual cost of driving to work, with an optional public transport comparison.
Useful for: Anyone weighing up how a longer or shorter commute affects the household budget.
Open calculatorMoving Cost Calculator
Add up the typical costs of moving home in the UK, from removals and conveyancing to surveys and mortgage fees.
Useful for: Buyers and movers budgeting for the full cost of a move, not just the deposit.
Open calculatorMortgage Affordability Calculator
Get a simple estimate of how much you might borrow, your monthly repayment, loan-to-value and deposit percentage.
Useful for: Households getting a rough idea of what they could afford before speaking to a lender.
Open calculatorArea Comparison Tool
Compare up to three areas side by side using a weighted score for affordability, school distance and commute.
Useful for: Families torn between two or three locations who want a structured comparison.
Open calculator