How many schools are in Bracknell Forest?

Bracknell Forest has 45 open schools: 29 primary schools and 6 secondary schools across 9 areas. Data sourced from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register.

What areas are covered by Bracknell Forest school catchment zones?

Bracknell Forest administers catchment areas across 9 areas, including Bracknell, Sandhurst, Ascot, Crowthorne, Bracknell Forest and more. Each school's catchment boundary is set by the local authority and reviewed annually as part of the admissions process.

How do school catchment areas work in Bracknell Forest?

In Bracknell Forest, catchment areas define a geographical zone around each school. Children living within the catchment boundary are given priority in oversubscription criteria. The exact boundary, and the "last distance offered", changes each year based on application volumes. Official catchment maps and admissions policies are published by Bracknell Forest council each autumn.

Which schools in Bracknell Forest are oversubscribed?

Oversubscription varies by school and year in Bracknell Forest. Popular schools typically receive more applications than available places, meaning the "last distance offered" shrinks annually. To check demand for a specific school, consult the Bracknell Forest admissions authority's published offer data or the school's own admissions policy.

Bracknell Forest School Catchment Areas

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Bracknell Forest is a unitary authority in Berkshire with 45 state schools – 29 primary and 6 secondary – spread across eight areas centred on Bracknell New Town and the surrounding parishes. The authority is relatively small, and 18 of the 45 schools hold academy status. One selective school serves academically qualified applicants from across the borough and neighbouring areas.

Demand is broadly moderate: 7 of the 42 schools with published capacity data are currently at or above their admission number. Twelve schools apply faith criteria alongside catchment distance in their oversubscription policies. Of the schools with a current Ofsted inspection, 17 are rated Good or Outstanding.

Catchment boundaries in Bracknell Forest are co-ordinated by the council for community schools and individually by academy trusts for academies. Because the authority is compact and surrounded by other Berkshire unitary authorities – Reading, Wokingham, Windsor and Maidenhead – families near the edges of Bracknell Forest may have access to schools in those neighbouring areas. The council publishes its admissions scheme each September. Always verify your address is within the intended school's catchment before the January closing date.

45 total 29 primary 6 secondary 9 areas

Based on the latest published capacity data, 7 of the 45 schools in Bracknell Forest are at or above their admission number, so catchment distance is decisive at those schools. Bracknell Forest has 1 selective school that admit by entrance test rather than distance. 12 schools apply faith-based criteria alongside catchment distance. Of the 17 Bracknell Forest schools with a current Ofsted rating, 17 are rated Good or Outstanding.