Start with the schools nearest the postcode
Put the postcode into the school checker and you'll see the closest schools, how far each one is, and a link to its latest Ofsted report. Distance matters because many schools use it as a tie-breaker for places — but distance is not the same as catchment (more on that below). Use it to get a feel for what's within a sensible walk or drive, then look each school up properly.
Catchment is set by the council, not by distance
There is no national map of school catchments. Each council sets its own priority admission areas, and they can change from year to year. So the nearest school is not automatically the one your child would get a place at. The only reliable source is your council's own admissions process — the school checker links you straight to it once you've entered a postcode. Always confirm the current year's arrangements with the council before you rely on a place.
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From late 2024, Ofsted stopped giving state schools a single overall grade like "Outstanding", moving towards report cards that grade several areas separately. That's why we link to each school's live Ofsted report rather than showing a one-word rating that may be out of date. Open the report and read the summary — it tells you far more than any single label, and it's always the current version.
Check recent crime for the area
The crime checker shows street-level crime around a postcode for the most recent month available, broken down by category, using data published by the police. It covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Police Scotland doesn't publish to the same service, so Scottish postcodes aren't covered there — your local force's website is the place to look instead.
How to read crime figures sensibly
A higher number doesn't automatically mean an area is dangerous. The figures show where crimes were recorded, and busier places — town centres, transport hubs, shopping streets — naturally show more. Police data is also published about 2–3 months in arrears, so the latest month is always a little behind. The most useful thing you can do is compare a few nearby postcodes rather than reading one number on its own.