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Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole school catchment areas

01.05.23
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Most families will carefully consider school catchment areas before deciding to buy or rent a property in a specific area. In this post, we take a look  at school catchment areas in the BCP Council region to explain how it all works, and to uncover some common misconceptions about BCP school catchment areas.

What is a school catchment area?

A school catchment area is a geographical area where residents of that area are given priority for school admission over applicants from outside the school’s catchment area. For example, if you live in the catchment area of a school, your child should be prioritised a place at that school over a child who lives outside of the school catchment area. 

If you live in the catchment area, is your child guaranteed a place?

Your child is never 100% guaranteed a place within a school even if you live within the school’s catchment area. Although your child’s chances will be significantly improved compared to a child living outside the school catchment area, it’s not guaranteed to get your child a place. Schools only have so many places they can offer. 

Moreover, if you move into a permanent home or rental within a school catchment area after the school has accepted its published admission spots, the school might not be able to offer your child a place.

Am I in the catchment area of the nearest school?

Not always. Your home might not be located within the catchment area of the nearest school. Your property may be just outside a school catchment area boundary, putting it in the catchment area of the school which is the second or even third closest school to your property.

Do all BCP schools have a catchment area?

Some BCP schools don’t use catchment areas and therefore don’t prioritise school applications based on where the child lives. They use other information to determine which children will be offered a place.

BCP school catchment areas

It would be exhaustive to provide the school catchment area for all BCP schools that use a catchment area. But you can find a comprehensive list of local schools and a map of their catchment areas on this council webpage.

Can you trust estate agent information on school catchment areas?

Estate agents will usually do their best to provide accurate information regarding school catchment areas. However as information changes they may not be fully up to date, so it is always best to check for yourself with the schools or council. 

How can I confirm the school catchment area of a property?

You can confirm the school catchment area of a school in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole by contacting the school directly or by contacting BCP Council. You can email the council at school.admissions@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or call their dedicated team on 01202 127 963.  

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View our current listings. Alternatively, get in touch if you don’t see any listings that match your criteria. We provide expert guidance to support your property search.

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Have a question about how we’ll market and sell your property? Read on for answers to all your queries about our comprehensive service for sellers today. We guarantee 100% clarity from the outset.

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Latest info

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We write regular posts to share information on the world of property. Many of our posts provide real-time insights into local property markets. Take a look to find out more.

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Our reviews

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Here at Hearnes, we have many happy clients. Read some of our reviews to see how we have helped buyers and sellers just like you.

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View our branches

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We have 5 branches in total, each dedicated to helping buyers and sellers in their local area. Find information, including contact details, for each of our branches here.

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Each of our branches has a dedicated and professional team ready to help buyers and sellers in their local area. Find out more about each of our team members here.

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Where service counts

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Here at Hearnes, we are a people business operating within the property sector. We are all about service and going the extra mile to make sure our clients get the home that they want as smoothly as possible.

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We're always happy to help. Whether you are looking to sell your home, buy a new one or you just want to chat to someone about how we can help with a stage in the process, get in touch and we'll see what we can do!