Last distance offered: what it means and how to read it

A guide for parents applying for a school place in England · September 2026

The "last distance offered" (sometimes called the cut-off distance or furthest distance offered) is the most-quoted number in school admissions, and the most misunderstood. Here is what it does and doesn't tell you, with real council examples.

What it is

When a school has more applicants than places, it offers places in the order set by its admission rules (its oversubscription criteria). Typically children in care come first, then groups such as siblings, catchment or faith, and finally everyone else by distance. The last distance offered is how far from the school the last child offered a place under the distance rule lived. Councils usually publish it for national offer day, in their admissions booklet or on their website.

It is not a catchment

A catchment area is a fixed area written into a school's admission rules. The last distance offered is an outcome that changes every year. Sometimes both exist. At Gordon's School in Surrey, day places give priority within a 1,500 m radius, but the last day place in 2026 went at 910 m (1,532 m in 2024 and 1,249 m in 2025). Living within 1,500 m was not enough.

It moves every year

Of 358 clearly oversubscribed secondaries we looked at, only 31% had a last distance offered within 10% of the year before, and 37% moved by a quarter or more. For primary schools, half moved by a quarter or more. Secondary findings · Primary findings.

"Historical distance information is only a guide as the cut-off distances vary from year-to-year. Even if you live within the cut-off distance for a previous year, there is no guarantee that your child will obtain a place at that particular school for next September."
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

It only applies to one priority group

The distance is for the group the last place fell in, so it may not apply to you.

• After catchment and siblings. In Buckinghamshire's allocation profile, the distance shown is for places given by distance after catchment, siblings and other higher rules.
• Faith and open places. Some church schools publish separate distances. At St Mary Magdalene Academy in Islington in 2026, open places went to 0.308 miles and foundation (faith) places to 0.885 miles.
• Ability bands. Banded schools publish one distance per band. At Holland Park School in 2026 they ranged from 0.761 miles (band D) to 1.767 miles (band A).

Straight line or walking route

How distance is measured is set in each school's admission rules, and it varies:

• Straight line. Leeds says all its published distances are measured as a straight line. Gordon's School measures a straight (radial) line to the main gate.
• Walking route. Richmond upon Thames measures a walking route with its mapping system, from the Ordnance Survey point for your home to the nearest named school gate. It leaves out paths through parks and car parks, so it can differ from the way you would actually walk or from a map app.

Also check which point of the home and the school is used, and how ties and flats are handled. The rules say.

Offer day and later

The published figure is usually from national offer day (1 or 2 March for secondary, 16 April for primary). Places then move as families accept, decline and join waiting lists, so the final distance can be further out. At Orleans Park School in Richmond, it was 1.111 km on offer day 2026 and 1.236 km by the end of coordination on 31 August.

How to use it

1. Look at three or more years and note the range, not just last year.
2. Work out your priority group from the school's admission rules. The distance only matters if you would be in the last group reached.
3. Measure the way the council does: straight line or walking route, and from which points.
4. Use every preference, including a school you are very likely to be offered. Under the equal-preference system, ranking a school lower does not reduce your chance of it.
5. Apply on time: 31 October 2026 for secondary and 15 January 2027 for Reception.

Where to find it

Look for your council's admissions booklet (sometimes called the composite prospectus), or pages called "allocation figures", "how places were offered" or "furthest distance offered". Some schools publish it on their own admissions page. Catchmently brings together the figures councils publish, with the source and offer date for each: browse your council or search a postcode. To see how likely first choices are in your area, see first-choice offers by council.

Quick answers

What does "last distance offered" mean?

It is how far from the school the last child offered a place under the distance rule lived, on national offer day. Councils or schools publish it after offers are made. It describes what happened in one year.

Is the last distance offered the same as a catchment area?

No. A catchment area is a fixed area written into some schools' admission rules. The last distance offered is an outcome that changes every year with the number of applicants, siblings and places.

If I live within last year's distance, will I get a place?

Not necessarily. The distance moves every year, often by hundreds of metres, and it only applies to the priority group the last place fell in. Councils say themselves that past distances are only a guide.

Is the distance measured in a straight line or by walking route?

It depends on the school's admission rules. Many use a straight line from the home to a point at the school; some councils use the shortest walking route. Check the rules for each school.

Sources: Surrey County Council, allocation of secondary school places 2026 · Buckinghamshire Council, allocation profile 2026 · Islington Council, secondary admissions guide 2027-28 · Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, secondary admissions brochure 2027 · Leeds City Council, school pages · Richmond upon Thames, secondary admissions guide and furthest distance offers 2024 to 2026. This guide is general information, not admission advice.