How many schools are in Brent?

Brent has 103 open schools: 60 primary schools and 14 secondary schools across 7 areas. Data sourced from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register.

What areas are covered by Brent school catchment zones?

Brent administers catchment areas across 7 areas, including London, Wembley, Harrow, Other, Brondesbury 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 Brent?

In Brent, 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 Brent council each autumn.

Which schools in Brent are oversubscribed?

Oversubscription varies by school and year in Brent. 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 Brent admissions authority's published offer data or the school's own admissions policy.

Brent School Catchment Areas

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

The London Borough of Brent has 103 state schools – 60 primary and 14 secondary – across six areas including Wembley, Willesden, Kilburn, and Harlesden. Twenty-nine schools hold academy status, and 26 apply faith criteria as part of their oversubscription policies. Brent also has two selective schools, making it one of the few inner-London boroughs with a selective offer.

Demand for places is notable: 16 of the 97 schools with published capacity data are currently at or above their admission number. The borough is one of the most ethnically diverse in England, and faith criteria are a significant feature of the admissions landscape, covering Catholic, Church of England, and other denominational schools. Of the schools with a current Ofsted inspection, 39 are rated Good or Outstanding.

Catchment boundaries in Brent are co-ordinated by the council and published annually. Because Brent borders Barnet, Harrow, Camden, and Westminster, families near the council boundaries may also be eligible for schools in neighbouring boroughs. For selective schools in Brent, applicants must pass the relevant entrance test. Always check the specific oversubscription criteria for each school – faith and academy policies can differ significantly from the council's standard catchment approach.

103 total 60 primary 14 secondary 7 areas

Based on the latest published capacity data, 16 of the 103 schools in Brent are at or above their admission number, so catchment distance is decisive at those schools. Brent has 2 selective schools that admit by entrance test rather than distance. 26 schools apply faith-based criteria alongside catchment distance. Of the 42 Brent schools with a current Ofsted rating, 39 are rated Good or Outstanding.

Brent Catchment Area Documents

Official admissions policies and catchment boundary maps for Brent schools are published annually. The council publishes oversubscription criteria, last-distance figures, and appeals timetables on its dedicated admissions page.

Brent admissions (official) →