What is a Catchment Area?
A school catchment area is the local area that surrounds a school. Your local state school is the school which is closest to your home. A map of the local area surrounding the school defines the catchment area and a state school's core intake of students must live within the catchment area of that school. Catchment areas ensure every Queensland student from Prep to Year 12 is able to enrol at their local state school.
Students within Catchment
All students, whose principle place of residence is within the school's catchment area/s are subject to the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 eligible for enrolment at the school. The school Principal will hold places for students who relocate to within the Benowa State School catchment area throughout the school year. To find out whether or not you reside within catchment, please click to view the
Benowa State School catchment map.
Parents who wish to enrol their children at the school, will need to demonstrate that the student's principle place of residence is within the catchment area. Current proof of residency at the address indicated can be provided by way of one of each of the following:
- One primary proof of residency – a current lease agreement, rate's notice, or an unconditional sale agreement.
- One secondary proof of residency – a driver's licence or utility bill (e.g. electricity, gas), showing this same address and parent's/legal guardian's name.
Priority for an application for enrolment from within catchment, will be considered for applicants first who will be living as the sole occupants in their place of residence. (
ie: not living with a friend/relative.)
If the Principal is not satisfied that the documentation provided by an applicant demonstrates adequately that the address stated is the student's principal place of residence, then the Principal may request further sources of proof of residency. Please read the school's
Enrolment Management Plan (PDF, 223KB) for further information.
Applicants should note that a false statement/assertion about the student's principle place of residence can amount to fraud and may be reported to police to be investigated. The school principal may consider repealing a decision to enrol a student in such circumstances.
Students Out Of Catchment
Families out of the catchment area boundary who are looking to enrol at Benowa State School, may submit an application for enrolment however there is no guarantee that a place will be offered.
From the 1 January 2016 Benowa State School introduced an out of catchment application fee of $100 for prep enrolments which is payable at the time of submission of your enrolment form.
If your enrolment is successful, this fee will be reimbursed as a credit on your school account which can be used to pay for fees related to incursions or excursions once your child has commenced school. If the School decides not to uphold your application for enrolment, you will be contacted and we will refund your deposit in full.
Should you decide not to proceed with your enrolment into prep and withdraw your application, your $100 fee will not be refunded.
Please note that the selection process for out of catchment applications is on a first in first served basis. Specifically places for prep students out of catchment are managed to ensure an even spread of students across the Prep year and to ensure the total enrolment does not exceed the school's accommodation capacity for year level.
All enrolment enquiries can be directed to our enrolment officer, Jill Sabell. Please contact Jill on (07) 5510 4382 or email: enrolments@benowass.eq.edu.au