Primary Finder

Choosing a primary school is a big decision. You shouldn't have to make it alone.

Primary Finder was made by a parent, for parents, after going through it ourselves.

Why I built this

When it was our turn to apply for a Reception place, I thought it would take an evening. It took weeks.

I had Ofsted reports open in one tab, SATs tables in another, and the council's admissions figures in a PDF I could barely read on my phone. I took screenshots of how far away the last child offered a place lived, year after year, trying to work out whether we'd get in. I worked out school runs around two jobs, checked which schools had breakfast clubs and after-school care, and wondered what "Requires improvement" from five years ago meant for a school today.

And underneath it all was the worry about getting it wrong. This isn't one decision about one child. Brothers and sisters usually get priority at the same school, so the school you choose now can shape your family's mornings for the next ten years or more.

I just wanted everything I needed in one place, explained simply, so we could compare a few schools side by side and make a decision we felt good about.

I couldn't find that, so I built it. Primary Finder brings together what I was piecing together by hand:

Everyone should have this information

Most of this data is published by the government and councils, so most of Primary Finder is free. Plus costs less than a coffee a month for the extras, and we've kept our running costs as low as possible so we can keep it that way.

Honest, not hype

We use official sources and say where every figure comes from. Where we don't have something, we say so. We'll never tell you a school is "the best", because the best school is the one that's right for your child and your family.

Your data stays yours

No adverts, no selling your details, no tracking you around the internet. You don't even need an account to use the map.

Things I wish I'd known at the start

Use every preference. Councils let you rank several schools, usually three to six. Listing only one school doesn't improve your chances there, and it can leave you with a school you didn't choose.
Put them in your real order. Each school looks at your application without knowing where you ranked it. If you qualify for more than one, you're offered the one you ranked highest. So list them in the order you'd honestly prefer.
Include a school you're likely to get into. Look at how far places reached in recent years, and include at least one school where you've usually been inside that distance.
Check for infant and junior schools. If a school stops at age 7, you'll need to apply again for Year 3. It's easy to miss.
Visit if you can. Numbers tell you a lot, but not how a school feels. Open days and tours usually run in the autumn.
Mark the date. In England, Reception applications close on 15 January, and families hear on National Offer Day in April.

These are general pointers. Every council's rules are a little different, so always check yours before you apply.

You've got this

If you're reading this late at night with too many tabs open, I've been there. Take a breath. Start with your postcode, look at a few schools, and shortlist the ones that feel right. You know your child better than any league table does.

If something's wrong, missing or confusing, please tell us at [email address]. Every message helps us make this better for the next family.

[Your first name]
Parent and founder, Primary Finder

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