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Last distance offered can shift every year. Learn how to read several years of Year 7 figures for the schools near you before the 31 October deadline.

How councils measure distance to school: straight-line vs walking route, tie-breaks, and what it means for your Year 7 or Reception place.

Sixth form open evenings run this autumn. How applying for September 2027 entry works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: deadlines, grades, offers, appeals.

Sibling priority explained: how a sibling link can put your child ahead of the distance criterion, and why the published last-distance-offered figure may not apply to you.

England closes 31 October 2026. Wales varies by council — from 9 October. Check yours, then work through this checklist before you submit for September 2027.

Visiting primaries this term? Check your postcode against the last-distance-offered figures we hold for previous rounds before you shortlist for Reception 2027.

Before booking secondary school open days this autumn, compare your postcode's distance with each school's last distance offered, so you visit the schools within reach.

Visited open days this autumn? List your 2027 secondary preferences in your real order, and use last-distance-offered figures to include at least one school you're likely to get, before your closing date (31 October in England).

The Schools White Paper proposes the biggest SEND shake-up in a decade: EHCPs reserved for the most complex needs, new Individual Support Plans, and 'inclusion bases' in mainstream schools. Here's what is proposed, what is law, and what parents should do today.

No school in England has a Progress 8 score for 2024/25 or 2025/26 results. It isn't hiding anything — the DfE literally cannot calculate it. Here's why, and how to judge a secondary school fairly without it.

Branded uniform capped at three items, free breakfast clubs, free school meals for every Universal Credit family, updated Ofsted inspection toolkits and new made-for-Wales GCSEs — everything changing in UK schools from September 2026, in one place.

DfE's first autumn 2025/26 attendance data is out. See what the termly absence rates mean and how to check your school's figures on School Atlas.

Planning a summer house move? Compare a postcode's distance with schools' last distance offered, and check catchment maps where councils publish them, before you commit.

GCSE results are out. Find out how to confirm your sixth-form place, what to do if grades missed the entry requirement, and your next steps today.

Official boundaries, statistical estimates and radius circles can disagree by whole streets. How online catchment maps are actually made, and what the last distance offered tells you about real places.

NI’s 92.1% attendance headline hides a 4.2-point gap between primary and post-primary. We’ve published school-level attendance for around 1,000 NI schools — here’s what the data shows and how to read it.

Secondary applications open in autumn. Compare your postcode's distance with schools' last distance offered before you apply for Year 7 in 2027.

We add 2026-27 last-distance-offered figures as councils publish them. How to check whether your nearest school's figure has changed, and what it means for your application.

Choosing between a sixth form college and a school sixth form around GCSE results: compare results, flexibility, deadlines and your rights if a place is refused.

Catchment boundaries are updated annually. Find out how to verify your address still falls inside your school's catchment before the new term starts.

Preparing your child for secondary school in September 2026? Our week-by-week checklist covers uniform, timetables, SEN handovers and first-day nerves.

Got your 2026 results? If your grades change your sixth form or college plans, here's exactly what to do right now to secure a place.

Ofsted's new report cards are landing now. Learn how to read the latest inspection judgements and what they mean for choosing a school in 2026.

A new school has opened in your area — but can you apply now? Learn how mid-cycle admissions to new schools work across England and Wales.

New independent school fee increases land September 2026. See how much fees have risen, what VAT means for your bill, and how to act now.

Got a waiting list position update? Learn what triggers movement in June–July, your rights, and exact steps to keep your application active.

Primary appeal turned down? Find out what you can do now — waiting lists, in-year moves, and September options explained for England and Wales.

Need to change your child's school outside normal admissions rounds? Our 2026 guide explains in-year applications, your rights, and exactly what to do.

Appeal unsuccessful? Find out exactly what to do now — waiting lists, alternative schools, and your legal options before September 2026.

Decode your child's end-of-year school report. Expert guide to understanding teacher comments and planning summer support.

Plan productive school visits this summer term. Find open days, book taster sessions, and prepare the right questions for your shortlisted schools.

On a primary school waiting list after National Offer Day? How lists are ranked, what can change your position, and when to appeal as well.

Didn't get your first choice primary school? Here's your step-by-step guide to appeals, waiting lists, and finding alternatives.

A practical checklist covering Ofsted ratings, catchment areas, class sizes, SEN provision, and what to look for on school visits. Based on data from 22,000+ primary schools.

Progress 8 is the most important metric for secondary schools — but also the most misunderstood. Here's how it works, what a good score looks like, and why raw results can be misleading.

England: apply by 31 October 2026 for Year 7 (offers 1 March 2027), by 15 January 2027 for Reception (offers 16 April 2027). Wales, Scotland and NI differ.

Ofsted no longer gives schools a single overall grade — report cards now rate each area on a five-point scale, while most schools still carry a legacy grade. Here's how to read both.

Since January 2025, VAT at 20% applies to independent school fees. We break down the real cost impact, how schools are responding, and how to use our fee projection tools.