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Privacy Policy

Last updated: 14 February 2026

School Catchment Checker ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use our school catchment area checking tool.

1. Information We Collect

We do not collect, store, or process any personal data on our servers.

The School Catchment Checker tool operates entirely in your web browser using localStorage. This means:

2. Third-Party Services

OpenStreetMap & Nominatim

We use OpenStreetMap tiles and Nominatim for address geocoding. When you search for an address, your query is sent to Nominatim's servers. Please review Nominatim's Usage Policy.

Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your visit to our site and other sites. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings.

3. Cookies

We use the following types of cookies:

4. Your Data Rights (GDPR)

Under UK GDPR, you have rights including:

5. Data Security

Since all data is stored locally on your device, security depends on your device's security. We recommend:

6. Children's Privacy

Our service is intended for adults (parents, guardians, estate agents). We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.

8. Contact Us

For privacy questions or concerns, contact us at:

Email: contact@schoolcatchmentchecker.co.uk

Website: schoolcatchmentchecker.co.uk

9. Your Consent

By using School Catchment Checker, you consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

10. How We Use Your Information

Although we don't store personal data on our servers, when you use our free school catchment checker tool, your browser temporarily processes the following information locally:

This approach ensures maximum privacy - your sensitive address information never leaves your device. You maintain complete control over your data and can clear it at any time using the "Clear All" button in the tool.

11. Understanding School Catchment Privacy

When checking school catchment areas, parents often have concerns about privacy. Here's what you should know:

What Information Schools Can See

State schools and local education authorities cannot see that you've used our catchment checker. When you eventually apply for school places through your council's official admissions portal, that's when your address becomes part of the school admissions process.

Estate Agents and Property Searches

Many parents use our tool when viewing properties to check if potential new homes fall within desirable school catchment areas. As explained in our comprehensive guide to school catchments, properties within outstanding school catchments can command a premium of up to 20% compared to similar properties outside the catchment zone.

Landlords and Rental Properties

Tenants frequently check catchment areas before signing rental agreements. Our tool helps you verify landlord claims about catchment zones without revealing your interest to property owners or letting agents.

12. Data Retention and Deletion

Since all data is stored locally in your browser:

13. International Users

While School Catchment Checker is designed for UK school catchment areas (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), international users may access our site. OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service operates from servers in various countries. If you're outside the UK, your geocoding requests may be processed internationally.

14. Educational Use and School Staff

Teachers, school administrators, and education professionals may use our tool to:

We remind school staff that any personal information shared by parents should be handled according to their school's data protection policies, not ours, as we do not receive or process such information.

15. Advertising and Analytics

Google AdSense Implementation

We display relevant advertisements through Google AdSense to support the free availability of this tool. Google's advertising system may:

You can control ad personalization through Google's Ads Settings or by using browser extensions that block advertising cookies.

Future Analytics

We may implement privacy-respecting analytics in future (such as Plausible or Fathom) to understand:

Any analytics implementation would be cookieless, anonymous, and GDPR-compliant. We would update this policy before implementing such tools.

16. Your Rights Under UK Data Protection Law

Even though we don't store your data, we want you to understand your broader rights under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018:

17. Security Measures

While we implement standard web security practices (HTTPS encryption, secure headers, XSS protection), the nature of our tool means your data's security primarily depends on:

18. Links to Other Websites

Our site contains links to:

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

19. Changes and Updates to This Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy to reflect:

Material changes will be highlighted at the top of this policy. Continued use of the tool after policy updates constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

20. Questions and Complaints

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to file a complaint, you can:

We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 5 business days.


Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR): We process minimal data based on legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR). Third-party cookies require consent, which you can manage in your browser settings.

Helpful Resources:

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