Moving house for schools: a practical checklist

If you’re choosing a place mainly for schools, the “zone” / “catchment” side can get confusing fast. Here’s a practical checklist you can run in under an hour.

Before you inspect a place

• Write down your non-negotiables: primary vs high school timing, co-ed vs single-sex, commute limits.
• Decide the entry year you actually care about (zones can differ between primary and secondary).
• List 2–3 backup schools you’d genuinely accept if plans change.

When you have an address

1. Check nearby schools within a sensible radius (2–5 km is usually enough in metro areas).
2. Check local enrolment area / zone for government schools where official data exists.
3. If you’re near a boundary, treat the result as “likely” and do a second confirmation.
4. Confirm directly with the school or department if enrolment is critical to the decision.

Things people miss

• Catchments change. A result is not a guarantee for future years.
• Proof of address requirements can be strict (lease dates, utility bills, settlement, etc.).
• Special programs (selective streams, language, opportunity classes) often have separate rules.
• Non-government schools don’t use government catchments in the same way.