The start of September brings anxious excitement, nerves and the odd tear to millions of families.
For children, the return to school after the long summer break means a sharp readjustment. And for parents who put their moving plans on hold over summer, the autumn moving season is a time of change and possibility.
As applications open for primary and secondary school places across the UK, September also offers a reminder of the huge impact that school catchment areas have on property values.
Whether you have children or not, living in the catchment of a highly rated school adds a significant premium to your home. The size of the premium will be determined by local factors, but Santander suggests an average of 5 per cent.
Lloyds Bank and Nationwide put the average higher at 10 per cent to 12 per cent, potentially nudging 20 per cent near the very best schools. Even the most conservative estimates suggest that being in the right catchment adds thousands, or even tens of thousands of pounds, to property values.
If you’re a renter, you can expect to pay a higher rent if you live in the catchment of a popular school. Most dramatic of all was a recent analysis of property prices near England’s 20 highest-rated secondary schools, which found the typical home in one of these school hotspots sold for £550,660, way above the England average of £293,260.
However, in many places, the map of catchment hotspots is now being redrawn. This is changing the game for anyone planning a move this autumn, and especially those with children.
Why the ‘baby bust’ matters
For years, the catchment areas of popular schools shrank as parents moved as close to the school gates as possible to maximise their children’s chances of getting a place.
This created intense competition, price inflation and weird anomalies, like streets where the homes on one side were in catchment, while their neighbours opposite were not.
But in some areas, this trend is now reversing because of Britain’s rapidly falling birthrate.
Government figures show that in 1963, the typical UK family had an average of 2.8 children. Half a century later in 2013, the figure was less than 1.9. By 2025 it was only 1.39.
In response to this ‘baby bust’, many schools – anxious to keep a critical mass of pupils and the council funding that goes with it – have expanded their catchment areas.
This could deliver a welcome bonus to the owners of homes that were previously just outside the catchment of an in-demand school. If this is you, you may find more family buyers competing for your home when you come to sell.
Meanwhile, if you’re a parent keen to move somewhere where your children will be eligible for a popular school, the loosening of catchment areas should give you greater choice.
Catchment areas often come with a catch
Whether you’re buying or renting, local knowledge is key if your reason for moving is to put your children in pole position for a preferred school.
Not all catchment areas are created equal. Some local authorities set them by drawing a simple radius around the school on the map, ignoring obstacles like roads, rivers or paths. Others are determined by the shortest safe walking route, taking into account anything that must be walked around.
Make sure you check the local authority’s policy before shortlisting areas you like, and remember that catchment areas aren’t set in stone. They can swell or shrink from one year to the next.
Bear in mind that when you apply for a school place, some local authorities will want to see evidence of your long-term commitment to the area. That’s easy enough to demonstrate if you’ve bought a home, but if you rent, you may have to show you’ve been resident for a year or more, rather than just renting for the brief window when school places are allocated.
Parents need to do homework too
No parent needs to be told to keep an eye on school Ofsted ratings, but when moving for catchment area reasons, it’s easy for busy parents to overlook important property questions. Here’s my cribsheet to help you pass the test with flying colours:
Before making an offer to buy or rent a property, get impartial information about local catchment areas and nearby schools. Move iQ, which I founded, offers property reports that contain this sort of information. Double-check the latest catchment boundaries directly with your favoured school and the local council. Make yourself an attractive buyer or tenant by sorting out your finances and paperwork early. Becoming what estate agents call “proceedable” will maximise the chances of your offer being accepted over those of your rivals. Don’t forget to factor in the painfully slow selling and buying process. In many areas it can take six months from listing to moving. If you pay a premium to buy a property that’s in the current catchment area, remember that shifting boundaries over the coming years might mean you don’t get a premium when you come to sell it.Parents understandably want to give their children the best start in life, and catchment areas add extra pressure to the already stressful business of moving home.
If getting your children into a particular school is one of your priorities for your next move, take heart from the loosening of some catchment areas and do your homework early. It can feel like a test, but every year thousands of families pass it, making the September season of ‘new home, new school’ a time of joy.
Phil Spencer is a property expert and co-presenter of Channel 4 show Location, Location, Location. He is also the founder of Move iQ
Hence then, the article about phil spencer the risks of paying the school premium on a home was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Phil Spencer: The risks of paying the ‘school premium’ on a home )
Also on site :
- Shoppers Say Walmart’s ‘Sturdy’ 8-Piece Patio Set ‘Will Stand Up to the Test of Wind and Rain’ — and It’s 73% Off
- Walmart’s ‘Beautiful’ Multifunctional Floor Lamp Is a Dream Find for Small Spaces, and It’s Under $50 For Labor Day
- Drew Barrymore’s $15 3-Piece Silicone Utensil Set Is a ‘Simple, Reliable, and Stylish’ Kitchen Upgrade