Groundsense

Every councilRanked

Distance to the nearest independent school, km, every council ranked

Measured in a straight line from where people live and averaged, to the nearest independent school teaching nursery, primary or secondary ages. Independent special schools are not counted. Figures for October 2026, published for 326 councils in England and Scotland. Lowest first: the order says where a council sits, not whether that is good.

Lowest: City of London, 0.3. The council in the middle: Harlow, 3.7. Highest: Isles of Scilly, 69.5.

Distance to the nearest independent school, km, every council it is published for, lowest first
PlaceCouncilFigure
1City of LondonLondon0.3
2 jointKensington and ChelseaLondon0.4
2 jointWestminsterLondon0.4
4 jointCamdenLondon0.5
4 jointHammersmith and FulhamLondon0.5
6WandsworthLondon0.7
7 jointRichmond upon ThamesLondon0.8
7 jointHackneyLondon0.8
9 jointBarnetLondon0.9
9 jointHaringeyLondon0.9
9 jointIslingtonLondon0.9
12 jointKingston upon ThamesLondon1.0
12 jointSouthwarkLondon1.0
12 jointCheltenhamSouth West1.0
12 jointElmbridgeSouth East1.0
16 jointCambridgeEast of England1.1
16 jointBrentLondon1.1
16 jointMertonLondon1.1
16 jointTower HamletsLondon1.1
16 jointLambethLondon1.1
16 jointLewishamLondon1.1
16 jointNewhamLondon1.1
16 jointSloughSouth East1.1
24 jointOxfordSouth East1.2
24 jointReadingSouth East1.2
24 jointRedbridgeLondon1.2
24 jointEpsom and EwellSouth East1.2
24 jointGreenwichLondon1.2
24 jointHarrowLondon1.2
30 jointNorwichEast of England1.3
30 jointSuttonLondon1.3
30 jointCroydonLondon1.3
30 jointHounslowLondon1.3
30 jointManchesterNorth West1.3
30 jointBrighton and HoveSouth East1.3
36 jointEalingLondon1.4
36 jointEnfieldLondon1.4
38 jointLutonEast of England1.5
38 jointSouthend-on-SeaEast of England1.5
38 jointWorcesterWest Midlands1.5
38 jointWatfordEast of England1.5
38 jointWaltham ForestLondon1.5
38 jointSpelthorneSouth East1.5
44 jointLeicesterEast Midlands1.6
44 jointTraffordNorth West1.6
44 jointWindsor and MaidenheadSouth East1.6
44 jointThree RiversEast of England1.6
44 jointExeterSouth West1.6
44 jointHertsmereEast of England1.6
44 jointOldhamNorth West1.6
51 jointPrestonNorth West1.7
51 jointSandwellWest Midlands1.7
51 jointAdurSouth East1.7
54 jointDacorumEast of England1.8
54 jointBurnleyNorth West1.8
54 jointSt AlbansEast of England1.8
54 jointRunnymedeSouth East1.8
54 jointWokinghamSouth East1.8
54 jointStockportNorth West1.8
54 jointTandridgeSouth East1.8
54 jointWaverleySouth East1.8
54 jointWorthingSouth East1.8
54 jointSalfordNorth West1.8
54 jointWarwickWest Midlands1.8
54 jointPortsmouthSouth East1.8
66 jointHaveringLondon1.9
66 jointGuildfordSouth East1.9
66 jointCity of EdinburghScotland1.9
66 jointBracknell ForestSouth East1.9
66 jointCoventryWest Midlands1.9
66 jointIpswichEast of England1.9
66 jointBristolSouth West1.9
73 jointBexleyLondon2.0
73 jointTunbridge WellsSouth East2.0
73 jointAberdeen CityScotland2.0
73 jointBlackburn with DarwenNorth West2.0
73 jointWokingSouth East2.0
73 jointRushmoorSouth East2.0
73 jointBirminghamWest Midlands2.0
73 jointNewcastle upon TyneNorth East2.0
81 jointWolverhamptonWest Midlands2.1
81 jointBromleyLondon2.1
81 jointNottinghamEast Midlands2.1
81 jointTamesideNorth West2.1
85 jointSouthamptonSouth East2.2
85 jointStoke-on-TrentWest Midlands2.2
85 jointFyldeNorth West2.2
85 jointRochdaleNorth West2.2
85 jointGraveshamSouth East2.2
85 jointBournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSouth West2.2
85 jointHyndburnNorth West2.2
92 jointGloucesterSouth West2.3
92 jointHillingdonLondon2.3
92 jointSurrey HeathSouth East2.3
92 jointBoltonNorth West2.3
92 jointDerbyEast Midlands2.3
92 jointReigate and BansteadSouth East2.3
98 jointBrentwoodEast of England2.4
98 jointRugbyWest Midlands2.4
98 jointBuryNorth West2.4
98 jointCrawleySouth East2.4
102 jointFarehamSouth East2.5
102 jointMid SussexSouth East2.5
104 jointGatesheadNorth East2.6
104 jointStockton-on-TeesNorth East2.6
104 jointBarking and DagenhamLondon2.6
104 jointYorkYorkshire and the Humber2.6
104 jointOadby and WigstonEast Midlands2.6
104 jointBradfordYorkshire and the Humber2.6
104 jointDudleyWest Midlands2.6
104 jointPlymouthSouth West2.6
112 jointLiverpoolNorth West2.7
112 jointBedfordEast of England2.7
114 jointChelmsfordEast of England2.8
114 jointLincolnEast Midlands2.8
114 jointMaidstoneSouth East2.8
114 jointMilton KeynesSouth East2.8
114 jointClackmannanshireScotland2.8
114 jointEast HertfordshireEast of England2.8
114 jointPeterboroughEast of England2.8
114 jointWyre ForestWest Midlands2.8
114 jointEast RenfrewshireScotland2.8
114 jointHavantSouth East2.8
124 jointBlackpoolNorth West2.9
124 jointMiddlesbroughNorth East2.9
126 jointEastbourneSouth East3.0
126 jointEastleighSouth East3.0
126 jointEpping ForestEast of England3.0
126 jointGlasgow CityScotland3.0
126 jointWalsallWest Midlands3.0
126 jointTest ValleySouth East3.0
132 jointHartSouth East3.1
132 jointChesterfieldEast Midlands3.1
132 jointCherwellSouth East3.1
132 jointBlabyEast Midlands3.1
132 jointSolihullWest Midlands3.1
137 jointKirkleesYorkshire and the Humber3.2
137 jointBromsgroveWest Midlands3.2
137 jointMole ValleySouth East3.2
137 jointCharnwoodEast Midlands3.2
137 jointNorth East LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber3.2
137 jointSevenoaksSouth East3.2
143 jointLeedsYorkshire and the Humber3.3
143 jointGosportSouth East3.3
143 jointCalderdaleYorkshire and the Humber3.3
143 jointKingston upon HullYorkshire and the Humber3.3
143 jointRutlandEast Midlands3.3
143 jointThanetSouth East3.3
149 jointWinchesterSouth East3.4
149 jointDundee CityScotland3.4
149 jointWirralNorth West3.4
152 jointLancasterNorth West3.5
152 jointRibble ValleyNorth West3.5
152 jointStaffordWest Midlands3.5
155 jointTeignbridgeSouth West3.6
155 jointColchesterEast of England3.6
155 jointBath and North East SomersetSouth West3.6
155 jointPendleNorth West3.6
155 jointWyreNorth West3.6
155 jointBroxbourneEast of England3.6
161 jointSheffieldYorkshire and the Humber3.7
161 jointDoverSouth East3.7
161 jointHarlowEast of England3.7
164 jointSouth RibbleNorth West3.8
164 jointMedwaySouth East3.8
166 jointBuckinghamshireSouth East3.9
166 jointHastingsSouth East3.9
168Newcastle-under-LymeWest Midlands4.0
169 jointGedlingEast Midlands4.1
169 jointWest NorthamptonshireEast Midlands4.1
169 jointWelwyn HatfieldEast of England4.1
172 jointAshfordSouth East4.2
172 jointSunderlandNorth East4.2
172 jointThurrockEast of England4.2
175 jointEast SuffolkEast of England4.3
175 jointTonbridge and MallingSouth East4.3
175 jointNew ForestSouth East4.3
175 jointTelford and WrekinWest Midlands4.3
179 jointSouth GloucestershireSouth West4.4
179 jointWest BerkshireSouth East4.4
179 jointHarboroughEast Midlands4.4
182 jointTewkesburySouth West4.5
182 jointCanterburySouth East4.5
182 jointSouth KestevenEast Midlands4.5
185 jointCheshire West and ChesterNorth West4.6
185 jointEast LothianScotland4.6
185 jointNewark and SherwoodEast Midlands4.6
185 jointErewashEast Midlands4.6
185 jointStroudSouth West4.6
185 jointHorshamSouth East4.6
185 jointWakefieldYorkshire and the Humber4.6
192 jointCheshire EastNorth West4.7
192 jointMalvern HillsWest Midlands4.7
192 jointNorth HertfordshireEast of England4.7
192 jointWiltshireSouth West4.7
192 jointTorbaySouth West4.7
197 jointRedcar and ClevelandNorth East4.8
197 jointCastle PointEast of England4.8
197 jointNorth NorthamptonshireEast Midlands4.8
197 jointVale of White HorseSouth East4.8
201 jointWealdenSouth East4.9
201 jointRushcliffeEast Midlands4.9
201 jointChichesterSouth East4.9
201 jointLichfieldWest Midlands4.9
201 jointSeftonNorth West4.9
206BroxtoweEast Midlands5.0
207 jointSwaleSouth East5.1
207 jointEast HampshireSouth East5.1
209 jointRenfrewshireScotland5.2
209 jointKnowsleyNorth West5.2
209 jointSouth StaffordshireWest Midlands5.2
212 jointWest OxfordshireSouth East5.3
212 jointDartfordSouth East5.3
214St. HelensNorth West5.5
215 jointSouth OxfordshireSouth East5.6
215 jointEast CambridgeshireEast of England5.6
215 jointNorth LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber5.6
215 jointRochfordEast of England5.6
219Cannock ChaseWest Midlands5.7
220 jointBroadlandEast of England5.9
220 jointWest LancashireNorth West5.9
220 jointCentral BedfordshireEast of England5.9
223 jointStevenageEast of England6.0
223 jointIsle of WightSouth East6.0
223 jointDoncasterYorkshire and the Humber6.0
223 jointSouth DerbyshireEast Midlands6.0
227 jointAmber ValleyEast Midlands6.1
227 jointStratford-on-AvonWest Midlands6.1
229 jointMaldonEast of England6.2
229 jointSwindonSouth West6.2
231RotherSouth East6.3
232 jointBasildonEast of England6.4
232 jointNorth TynesideNorth East6.4
232 jointNorth East DerbyshireEast Midlands6.4
235 jointLewesSouth East6.5
235 jointHaltonNorth West6.5
235 jointTorridgeSouth West6.5
238RossendaleNorth West6.6
239 jointNorth WarwickshireWest Midlands6.7
239 jointStaffordshire MoorlandsWest Midlands6.7
241Nuneaton and BedworthWest Midlands6.8
242 jointBasingstoke and DeaneSouth East6.9
242 jointWest SuffolkEast of England6.9
244 jointWiganNorth West7.0
244 jointBraintreeEast of England7.0
244 jointBassetlawEast Midlands7.0
247 jointEast DevonSouth West7.1
247 jointDorsetSouth West7.1
247 jointMidlothianScotland7.1
250 jointShropshireWest Midlands7.2
250 jointSouth TynesideNorth East7.2
252 jointArunSouth East7.3
252 jointCounty DurhamNorth East7.3
252 jointSouth HollandEast Midlands7.3
252 jointEast StaffordshireWest Midlands7.3
252 jointInverclydeScotland7.3
257 jointEast DunbartonshireScotland7.4
257 jointNorth SomersetSouth West7.4
257 jointSomersetSouth West7.4
257 jointTendringEast of England7.4
261South CambridgeshireEast of England7.5
262 jointBaberghEast of England7.6
262 jointWychavonWest Midlands7.6
262 jointHinckley and BosworthEast Midlands7.6
265HerefordshireWest Midlands7.7
266 jointWest DunbartonshireScotland7.9
266 jointWarringtonNorth West7.9
268FenlandEast of England8.0
269 jointAshfieldEast Midlands8.1
269 jointNorth YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber8.1
269 jointBolsoverEast Midlands8.1
269 jointWest LindseyEast Midlands8.1
269 jointMid SuffolkEast of England8.1
274Mid DevonSouth West8.2
275 jointWestmorland and FurnessNorth West8.3
275 jointSouth AyrshireScotland8.3
277CotswoldSouth West8.5
278 jointRedditchWest Midlands8.6
278 jointSouth LanarkshireScotland8.6
278 jointRotherhamYorkshire and the Humber8.6
278 jointNorth West LeicestershireEast Midlands8.6
282HartlepoolNorth East9.3
283 jointDerbyshire DalesEast Midlands9.5
283 jointNorth KestevenEast Midlands9.5
285StirlingScotland9.6
286UttlesfordEast of England9.7
287 jointHuntingdonshireEast of England9.8
287 jointChorleyNorth West9.8
289North LanarkshireScotland10.2
290Perth and KinrossScotland10.3
291 jointCumberlandNorth West10.7
291 jointWest DevonSouth West10.7
291 jointTamworthWest Midlands10.7
294 jointForest of DeanSouth West10.8
294 jointWest LothianScotland10.8
296 jointSouth NorfolkEast of England10.9
296 jointMansfieldEast Midlands10.9
298South HamsSouth West11.2
299High PeakEast Midlands11.4
300MeltonEast Midlands11.6
301North DevonSouth West11.9
302East Riding of YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber12.0
303North NorfolkEast of England12.2
304BarnsleyYorkshire and the Humber12.9
305DarlingtonNorth East13.2
306Great YarmouthEast of England13.3
307Folkestone and HytheSouth East13.4
308FalkirkScotland13.5
309 jointCornwallSouth West13.6
309 jointBostonEast Midlands13.6
311 jointKing's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of England14.4
311 jointBrecklandEast of England14.4
313East LindseyEast Midlands14.6
314Scottish BordersScotland15.7
315FifeScotland15.8
316MorayScotland16.6
317NorthumberlandNorth East16.8
318AngusScotland19.0
319East AyrshireScotland19.8
320Na h-Eileanan SiarScotland20.6
321North AyrshireScotland20.8
322AberdeenshireScotland28.8
323Argyll and ButeScotland31.8
324HighlandScotland42.5
325Dumfries and GallowayScotland46.2
326Isles of ScillySouth West69.5

Not in this list

  • Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland's independent schools are not placed: their postcodes' locations are licensed.
  • Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands. Not published for these councils.
  • Wales. Wales's list of independent schools gives no ages and does not say which are special schools.

Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, open independent schools, 2026-10-22; Scottish Government, register of independent schools, less those registered for additional support needs alone, read at every census area · October 2026 · fetched 22 October 2026 · How this is measured

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