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 Benowa State School's
Enrolment Management Plan (PDF, 1.28MB) 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
Benowa State School recognises as its prime obligation, the provision of access to an appropriate educational service for students whose principal place of residence is within the school's catchment area.
Because of enrolment capacity and growth, Benowa State School may be unable to meet this obligation in the future unless action is taken to manage enrolments. Benowa State School has limited ability to accept enrolments from outside the catchment area.
Student enrolment capacity
Benowa State School has a maximum student enrolment capacity of 926 students.
The number of students entering Prep in any given year must not exceed 100 in 4 classrooms, unless there are more than 100 students enrolling from within the catchment area.
The Department's enrolment policy includes further information about in-catchment and out-of-catchment enrolments, acceptance and assessment processes, as well as any associated fees and decisions on enrolments.
For further information regarding School Enrolment Management Plans, please refer to the School Enrolment Management Plans (School EMP) procedure or contact the school principal.
Gazettal date
This updated version of the School Enrolment Management Plan for Benowa State School was gazetted on 22 August 2025.
The School Enrolment Management Plan is internally reviewed each year, and if required, updated to reflect any changes to student enrolment capacity and/or Programs of Excellence.
To learn more about enrolling into Prep, please click
here.
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