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Grammar schools are an excellent choice for those starting secondary school. They provide children with a great education at no cost. However, with only 163 grammar schools in England, your options may be limited. Over half of these schools have catchment areas, and many have strict deadlines for moving into these areas to qualify for a spot.
Key takeaways:
98 grammar schools in England have catchment or priority areas
Many schools require families to move into these areas by specific dates.
Schools might ask for proof of your address and moving date.
Plan for catchment areas at least two years before applying.
What is a catchment area?
When reading your target school’s admissions policies, you may come across terms like catchment area, priority area or designated area. These can be confusing to understand at first glance, but all generally mean the same thing.
They refer to an area surrounding a school and usually, children living in that defined area are prioritised for a place at that school. Schools define their catchment or priority areas in different ways. Some common ways include:
Distance catchment areas: covers a specific radius from the school. For example, children who live within five miles of the school might be defined as ‘within catchment’.
District catchment areas: the area covers particular local districts or parishes surrounding the school.
Free transport area: a particular area served by free transport to and from the school.
Map-based areas: the catchment area is defined by points plotted on a map – usually with the school at or near the centre.
Postcode catchment areas: children who live within specific postcodes are prioritised for places.
Some schools have more than one priority area, such as Priority Area 1, Priority Area 2, etc. In these cases, children who live in Priority Area 1 are prioritised for places first. When these places are filled, the school allocates places to children who live in Priority Area 2.
Distance from the school is also used for:
Oversubscription: if there are too many eligible children and insufficient spaces, children may be ranked based on their proximity to the school. Check your target school’s admission policies for finer details.
A tiebreaker: the distance is only used if two or more children meet all the same criteria, but only one place is available.
Can my child still get a place if we don’t live in the catchment area?
If you don’t live in your target school’s catchment area, your child might still be able to get a place. But the chances are slim.
Grammar schools with a catchment area will always prioritise children living in that area first. If too many children apply to the school than there are places available, they will fall to their oversubscription criteria (as mentioned above). This usually prioritises looked after children, children eligible for pupil premium, and so on. Children outside the catchment area are the last to be considered.
To put this in perspective, take the Redbridge common catchment area (East London) as an example. No child living outside this catchment area has ever been offered a place at one of the two Redbridge grammar schools.
If your target school has a catchment area, it would be advisable to move to the area as soon as possible or at least make sure you’re aware of the admissions policies for that school before applying.
Each school will have a date for when you can move to a catchment area to be considered for a place. Unfortunately, there is no set rule. For some, you need to be living in the area for at least two years, for other schools you need to be living in the area by the application deadline, 31st October.
And remember, grammar schools work on academic testing based on 11 plus performance. Living in a catchment area isn’t enough to get your child an automatic place at your target school, but will put you higher up the priority list.
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What grammar schools have catchment areas?
Of all the grammar schools in England, over half have a catchment or priority area. Below is a list of all the schools with a catchment area and the date when a child needs to be living in that area to be eligible for a place. Please be aware that all these schools will have additional criteria that should be considered before you move.
Greater London
11 grammar schools in Greater London have a catchment or priority area. Each school has its own policy on when a child and their parent/carer need to move into the catchment area. These schools are:
Ilford County High School - The admissions policy for 2025-2026 has yet to be released. Based on the 2023-2024 policy, the child must be living in the catchment area on the closing date of your application. While this is likely to be the same, please check with the school for their updated policy.
Newstead Wood School - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Nonsuch High School - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Sutton Grammar School - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
The Henrietta Barnett School - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. However, bear in mind that Barnet Council will conduct checks on those who have moved within a three-mile radius within 12 months of applications.
The Latymer School - Based on the 2025 admission policy, priority will be given to applicants who are residents of the Inner Area as of 8 January 2025. Check the school’s admission policy for details of the Inner Area.
The Tiffin Girls' School - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. However, bear in mind that if you have moved to the address given on the application within the last 12 months, further information may be requested.
Tiffin School - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Wallington County Grammar School - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Wallington High School for Girls - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Woodford County High School - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
North East England
Four schools in North East England have catchment areas. However, for three of the four schools, it is unclear when a parent and their child would need to move into a catchment area. Please check with the schools for finer details.
Ermysted's Grammar School, North Yorkshire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area when registering for the Entrance Test. Check with the school for exact dates.
Heckmondwike Grammar School, West Yorkshire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Ripon Grammar School, North Yorkshire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Skipton Girls' High School, North Yorkshire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
North West England
12 schools in North West England have catchment or priority areas. Most of these schools allow parents to move within the catchment area by the date of the application submissions, 31st October. To check your target school, see below:
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Trafford, Manchester - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. However, those who have lived in the catchment area for less than 2 years, may be asked for more details.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Trafford, Manchester - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. However, those who have lived in the catchment area for less than 2 years, may be asked for more details.
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Lancashire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Lancashire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Lancaster Girls' Grammar School, Lancashire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Loreto Grammar School, Trafford, Manchester - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Penrith - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Saint Ambrose College, Trafford, Manchester - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Sale Grammar School, Trafford, Manchester - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. However, those who have lived in the catchment area for less than 2 years, may be asked for more details.
St Anselm's College, Wirral - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Stretford Grammar School, Trafford, Manchester - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Urmston Grammar School, Trafford, Manchester - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. However, those who have lived in the catchment area for less than 2 years, may be asked for more details.
South East England
47 schools in South East England have a catchment or priority area. Each school has its own policy on when a child and their parent/carer need to move into the catchment area. Always check the admissions policy if you’re unsure of anything.
Aylesbury Grammar School, Buckinghamshire - The child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry.
Aylesbury High School, Buckinghamshire - The child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry.
Beaconsfield High School, Buckinghamshire - The child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry.
Borden Grammar School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Burnham Grammar School, Buckinghamshire - The child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry.
Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Essex - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Chesham Grammar School, Buckinghamshire - The child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry.
Colchester County High School for Girls, Essex - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Cranbrook School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Dover Grammar School for Boys, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Dover Grammar School for Girls, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Dr Challoner's Grammar School, Buckinghamshire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area on the 1st April of the year preceding proposed admission (for admission in September 2026 this is 1st April 2025).
Dr Challoner's High School, Buckinghamshire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area on 1st April of the year preceding admission (for admission in September 2026, this is 1st April 2025).
Fort Pitt Grammar School, Medway - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Gravesend Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Herschel Grammar School, Berkshire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
John Hampden Grammar School, Buckinghamshire - Based on the draft 2026 admissions policy, the child and parent/carer must live in the catchment area by 1st September 2025.
Kendrick School, Berkshire - Based on the 2024 policy, the child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area by 31st August of the year preceding admission. Please confirm with the school for the latest admission policy.
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Langley Grammar School, Berkshire - Applicants for entry to Year 7 in September 2025 must be resident at the time of application submission, 31st October, and have been continuously resident at the same address since 1st May 2024 (6 months before the application deadline).
Maidstone Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Mayfield Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Reading School, Berkshire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area by the 31st of August of the year preceding admission.
Royal Grammar School, Buckinghamshire - Based on the 2025 policy, the child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry. Please check with the school for confirmation.
Royal Latin School, Buckinghamshire - Based on the 2025 policy, the child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry. Please check with the school for confirmation.
Shoeburyness High School, Essex - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, Buckinghamshire - Based on the 2025 policy, the child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry. Please check with the school for confirmation.
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, Buckinghamshire - Based on the 2025 policy, the child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry. Please check with the school for confirmation.
Southend High School for Boys, Essex - Based on the 2024 policy, the child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. Please confirm with the school.
Southend High School for Girls, Essex - Based on the 2024 policy, the child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. Please confirm with the school.
St Bernard's High School, Essex - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
St Thomas More High School, Essex - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
The Folkestone School for Girls, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
The Harvey Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
The Judd School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
The Langton Grammar School for Boys, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
The Skinners' School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Tonbridge Grammar School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Weald of Kent Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Westcliff High School for Boys, Essex - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Westcliff High School for Girls, Essex - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Wycombe High School, Buckinghamshire - The child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry. Please check with the school for confirmation.
South West England
Only six schools in South West England have a catchment area. For all of these schools, the child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year. The six schools are:
East Midlands
Six grammar schools in the East Midlands have a catchment area. Each school has its own policy on when a child and their parent/carer need to move into the catchment area. The six schools are:
Caistor Grammar School, Lincolnshire - The child and parent/carer must be living in the catchment area by 1st September, one year before Year 7 entry. Please check with the school for confirmation.
King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Alford - Based on the 2025 admissions policy, the child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area by 14th December 2025.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Skegness Grammar School, Lincolnshire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
The King's School Grantham, Lincolnshire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
West Midlands
13 schools in the West Midlands have a catchment or priority area. Each school has its own policy on when a child and their parent/carer need to move into the catchment area. For any of the King Edward VI schools, we recommend you contact the school and confirm their policy.
Alcester Grammar School, Warwickshire - If your home address changes between applying to the school and 31st December, you must provide proof of the new address. The child must be living at the new address by 31st December. Please confirm these details with the school.
Haberdashers' Adams, Shropshire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
King Edward VI Aston School, Birmingham - Children who move into the local area between the test registration deadline and the test date will be tested and considered in the main round of admissions. We advise you to move before 31st October, the application deadline, but please confirm with the school.
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, Birmingham - Children who move into the local area between the test registration deadline and the test date will be tested and considered in the main round of admissions. We advise you to move before 31st October, the application deadline, but please confirm with the school.
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham - Children who move into the local area between the test registration deadline and the test date will be tested and considered in the main round of admissions. We advise you to move before 31st October, the application deadline, but please confirm with the school.
King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham - Children who move into the local area between the test registration deadline and the test date will be tested and considered in the main round of admissions. We advise you to move before 31st October, the application deadline, but please confirm with the school.
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, Birmingham - Children who move into the local area between the test registration deadline and the test date will be tested and considered in the main round of admissions. We advise you to move before 31st October, the application deadline, but please confirm with the school.
King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls, Birmingham - Children who move into the local area between the test registration deadline and the test date will be tested and considered in the main round of admissions. We advise you to move before 31st October, the application deadline, but please confirm with the school.
King Edward VI School, Warwickshire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Lawrence Sheriff School, Warwickshire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Newport Girls' High School, Warwickshire - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Rugby High School, Warwickshire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Stratford Girls' Grammar School, Warwickshire - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
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