Get information about catchment areas for secondary schools in Brighton & Hove
A school catchment area is the geographical area around a secondary school.
The council decides the size of school catchment areas used for community schools run by the council, Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA).
The catchment areas have changed for admission in September 2026.
Church voluntary aided and free schools don't use catchment areas.
Children who live in a school's catchment area generally have a better chance of getting a place at this school than children who live outside the catchment area apart from some pupils eligible for free school meals and for 2026 allocations, the places available to children living in a single school’s catchment area.
If your child stays with another parent or relative regularly and therefore has more than one address, the school place will be allocated based on the address where your child is registered with a doctor. This is the address that you should use on your application.
We may ask for evidence to confirm the address you give us.
If a child's main home address is on a boat or in a traveller site, the location of the marina or the traveller site will be used as the main home address.
View our school application guides for more information.