How school places actually get handed out
The rules sound complicated, but they boil down to a queue. Here’s who goes first, what “last place” means, and how to read the numbers we show you.
1. Who gets a place first
For community and voluntary controlled schools, North Yorkshire Council works down this list until the places run out.
- 1
Looked-after children
Children in care, or who used to be, always come first.
- 2
Medical or social need
Only cases the council has approved, with evidence.
- 3
Living in the catchment
We check your postcode against the council’s catchment map. Near a boundary? Check your exact address on their map.
- 4
Children of staff
Children of people who work at the school.
- 5
Everyone else
Children from outside the catchment, if places are left.
Inside each group, who wins?
Brothers and sisters of pupils already at the school go first. After that, whoever lives nearest. That’s why distance matters so much.
Academies, voluntary aided, foundation and faith schools
These set their own rules, and faith schools may put church members first. We mark them “own rules” so you know to read their policy.
2. What “last place” means
It’s how far from the school the last child offered a place on distance lived. It’s measured the way the school measures it, usually the walking route.
It is not a fixed boundary. It moves every year depending on how many families apply and where they live.
Coppice Valley, last place each year
Outside-catchment places3. Reading the year by year
Every school shows a line like these for each year. Here’s what each one means in plain English.
“Everyone in the catchment, plus others within 1.22 mi”
Every child in the catchment got a place, and children outside it got one if they lived within 1.22 miles.
“Only children in the catchment, within 0.27 mi”
Places ran out inside the catchment. Nobody outside it got in, and inside it only children within 0.27 miles did.
“Everyone in the catchment, plus brothers and sisters of pupils”
From outside the catchment, only children with a brother or sister already there got in.
“By the school’s own rules”
Academies, voluntary aided and foundation schools decide their own order. Faith schools may put church members first.
worth knowingOur labels don’t count brothers and sisters. If you already have a child at a school, your chances there are better than we show.
4. Picking your five
The council’s form takes up to five schools. Each one is considered equally, without knowing where you ranked it.
If more than one could take you, you’re offered the one highest on your list. So put your real favourite first, and include at least one safe bet.
Putting your favourite first never costs you a place at the others. The council just goes for the highest school on your list that has room.
5. Where our numbers come from
Offers and last places
North Yorkshire Council admissions statistics for 2023 to 2026 entry, from Data North Yorkshire.
Catchments
The council’s school maps, updated September 2025. The council publishes them for reference only, so check your exact address if you’re near a boundary.
Distances
Walking routes from OpenStreetMap, from your postcode’s centre to the school. Expect differences of 0.1 mile or more. Where a school doesn’t say how it measures, we use a straight line.
Ofsted
Ofsted management information as at 30 September 2026, including the new report cards, which rate each area rather than giving one grade.
Junior schools like Oatlands Junior and Saltergate Junior take children into Year 3, so they aren’t included. Always check the school’s current admissions policy and the council’s own figures before you apply. Key dates are from the council’s primary admissions timetable for 2027 to 2028.