Catchment Area for Schools: Applicable to the Independent Sector?

Catchment areas apply to schools in the state sector and play an important role in how primary and secondary schools allocate places to their students. A school catchment area is a geographical area around a school and families who live in this area will get priority when applying for a place in the school.

Which factors determine school places?

School admissions for certain state schools can be oversubscribed, so schools have a hierarchy of which pupils’ applications are prioritised. The criteria deployed to filter applicants can include:

1. Pupils with special health or education needs
2. Pupils who are or have been looked after by the local authority
3. Pupils who attend a feeder primary school for the secondary school and have an older sibling who already attends the secondary school
4. Pupils who have an older sibling who attends the secondary school
5. Pupils located within the catchment area
6. Other student applications

For faith schools, the child’s religion can influence their application. If you are applying to a grammar school, academic ability on 11+ tests can also be used to allocate places.

Do Independent Schools have catchment areas?

Pitsford School, and other independent schools, are not constrained by catchment areas, and can admit students from wherever they please. The majority of students who attend such schools will still be drawn from a geographical area near the school, but it may be wider depending on the school.

The criteria the schools will use to admit students will differ:

1. Some schools will filter on ability based on a one-off entrance examination
2. Some schools may be single-sex (so all girls or all boys)
3. Some schools may have a particular strength they want to develop, for example sports or music, and students will be admitted based on their abilities in these fields
4. Some schools will be faith-based and although they will have students of all faiths and none, they may prioritise students who share the faith of the school

Independent schools’ greater flexibility results in a range of educational experiences dictated by that individual school’s culture. A good example of this is Pitsford School, which although high-achieving academically, prides itself on its eclectic student body, and its strong inclusion. Therefore, students are admitted there based on their overall qualities rather than one or two criteria, and they are measured against their own potential and how they reach and exceed it, rather than against league tables of characteristics out of their control.

What is best for my child?

As with every decision, this comes down to your child, your family and what you hope for them. Every school should have its entry requirements on its website and, if not, they will be able to explain them to you if you contact them. In the case of state schools, they will be able to explain catchment to you.

In the case of independent schools, there will be a great range in terms of their school cultures, their priorities for the children for whom they are responsible, and the qualities of the educational experience that they offer. Nothing beats visiting to see with your own eyes the relationships in the school.

Email registrar@pitsfordschool.com or call +44 (0)1604 880306 to learn about the admission process for Pitsford School.