North East parents fork out to clinch school spots
Nov 24 2009 by Nicola Juncar, The Journal
PARENTS from the North are paying more than £5,000 to get their children into the best state schools, new research suggests.
Figures released yesterday by the Nationwide Building Society reveal that house prices in the North East and Cumbria are 4.5% higher – an average figure of £5,041 – if they are close to a high-performing primary school.
Parents’ groups last night said the research showed that some families could be priced out of good catchment areas.
A spokesman for the Tyneside-based national charity Parentline Plus said: “One of the main reasons parents call us is to discuss their child’s education. Every child should be entitled to the best education, so it’s sad this doesn’t seem to be the case and it’s more about where you can afford to live.”
Although the North has the lowest house prices, with the average family home costing £116,051, it has one of the highest percentage increases for properties near good schools.
It is second only to the Yorkshire and Humber region, where house prices are, on average, 4.6% higher if they are close to a good school.
The Nationwide survey looked at the impact on house prices of the local primary school having 10% more 11-year-olds who achieved the target level four or above in their Key Stage 2 SATs tests than surrounding schools.
House prices in all regions of England were higher if they were in the catchment area for a good school. The Nationwide said in the vast majority of primary schools in England, at least 70% of pupils achieved at least a level four in their SATs, while 30% of schools had an average attainment rate of between 90% and 100%.
Around 2.4% of primary schools had a 100% attainment rate, and a house located near one of these commanded an average premium of 11%, or £19,500, over an identical property that was near one of the bottom quarter of schools.
The premium people were prepared to pay to live near a good school had increased from around 2.5% when it last carried out the research in 2004.
Martin Gahbauer, Nationwide’s chief economist, said: “Following recent revelations around the lengths that some parents are prepared to go to get their child a place at a good school, we have revisited our research examining how property prices are influenced by the performance of local schools.
“In deciding on a location for their family, parents can place a great deal of focus on the level of education that the local school can provide for their children when growing up.
“Primary school catchment areas tend to be relatively small and are driven by proximity to the school. Therefore, one might expect that families would prefer to live near high performing schools and be willing to pay a premium for this.”
Clive Rook, managing director of North East estate agents Rook Matthews Sayer, said: “I think it is true to say that there is an upward pressure on prices in catchment areas for good schools.
“There have also been surveys to suggest that some parents who cannot afford to send their children to private schools will look at catchment areas for good schools.
“The recession could mean there are families who are less able to pay for a private education and will look at good state schools instead.”
A previous study from The Children’s Society revealed 52% of parents in the North East would consider moving house if it meant their child would go to a good school.
The research showed that 13% of parents were prepared to give false details on school application forms, such as their address or religion, to get a place.
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