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Catchment

Moving house for a grammar school

The short answer

If you are thinking of moving to improve your chances at a grammar school, check three things first: the date by which your new address must be your child's real home, how the school measures distance or catchment, and what proof the council will ask for. Moving does not change whether your child passes the test, only their priority once they have. Offers based on a misleading address can be withdrawn.

What to do next

  1. Step 1: Find the address date in each policy

    Your new home must be your child’s real home by that date.

  2. Step 2: Check how each school gives places

    Look at catchment areas and how distance is measured.

    Catchment areas explained

  3. Step 3: Gather your proof of address early

    The council will ask for it, and offers based on a misleading address can be withdrawn.

Will moving actually help?

Only in some cases. A move can help if:

  • the school gives priority by catchment area or distance, and
  • your new home is inside the catchment, or close enough that offers have reached it in recent years, and
  • you move before the address cut-off date in the school's policy.

It won't help if the school offers places in score order regardless of address, or if your child does not reach the pass mark. Check past allocations on our school pages before you commit to a move; they describe past years only and can change.

What is the address cut-off date?

Each policy says which date your child's home address is taken from. For example, most Buckinghamshire grammar schools use the address on 1 September 2026Buckinghamshire 2027 entry: Address date (where your child must live)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: For most grammar schools, this is the cut-off date for the home address they’ll use for applicants in the main allocation of school places.View the official source for 2027 entry. Each policy also says what happens if you move after that date. Always check the policy for your child's entry year.

Which council do you apply to after moving?

The rule is that you apply through your own local council, even for schools in another council areaWho you apply throughChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You apply through your local council even if you’re applying for schools in another council area or you’ve just moved to England.View the official source. If you move between council areas during the process, ask both councils which one is handling your application and when your new address will be used. If you are moving from abroad, contact the council for the area where you will live; you may need proof of your new addressApplying from another countryChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: If you’re applying from another country, contact the local council in the area where you’re going to live.View the official source.

What proof of address will you need?

GOV.UK says you may need proof of your new address, for example a mortgage or rental agreement or deeds for the propertyProof of address after a moveChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: supply proof of your new address, for example a mortgage or rental agreement or deeds for the propertyView the official source. Your council's admissions guidance lists exactly what it accepts, and it may ask for more than one document.

What happens if an address isn't genuine?

Councils check addresses carefully. The School Admissions Code says an offer can be withdrawn if it was obtained through a fraudulent or intentionally misleading applicationWhen an offer can be withdrawnChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: An admission authority must not withdraw an offer unless it has been offered in error, a parent has not responded within a reasonable period of time, or it is established that the offer was obtained through a fraudulent or intentionally misleading application.View the official source. And once a child has started, a place can be withdrawn only if it was obtained fraudulentlyWhen a place can be withdrawnChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: A school must not withdraw a place once a child has started at the school, except where that place was fraudulently obtained.View the official source. If you keep another home, or plan to move back soon after an offer, expect the council to ask questions.

What if parents live at different addresses?

Admission policies must say how a home address is decided, including where a child lives part of the week with each parent; the Code requires that each school must say exactly how it measures distance and decides your home addressHow schools must explain distanceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Admission authorities must clearly set out how distance from home to the school and/or any nodal points used in the arrangements will be measured.View the official source. Check the policy and be ready to show evidence.

Sources

Facts on this page come from the School Admissions Code 2021 and GOV.UK school admissions guidance, archived on 9 October 2026, and our verified Buckinghamshire records.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with any school or council. How we make our content.

Facts used in this guidesources in each row
FactDetailSource
Buckinghamshire 2027 entry: Address date (where your child must live)1 September 2026Source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked
Who you apply throughyou apply through your own local council, even for schools in another council areaSource: GOV.UK, checked
Applying from another countrycontact the council for the area where you will live; you may need proof of your new addressSource: GOV.UK, checked
Proof of address after a moveproof of your new address, for example a mortgage or rental agreement or deeds for the propertySource: GOV.UK, checked
When an offer can be withdrawnan offer can be withdrawn if it was obtained through a fraudulent or intentionally misleading applicationSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
When a place can be withdrawnonce a child has started, a place can be withdrawn only if it was obtained fraudulentlySource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
How schools must explain distanceeach school must say exactly how it measures distance and decides your home addressSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked

Written and checked by the ExamKind Editorial Team. Every fact on this page links to its official source. ExamKind is independent: no test provider, school or council owns us, and we have no ads. Spotted a mistake? Report an error on this page, or see every correction we have made.