What are School Catchment Areas and do they Affect Property Prices?

If you’ve got children or are planning on having them in the future, then you’ve probably given this some thought when looking at properties to buy in Whitstable. Where you live is important in your childs future education choices. This blog explains what are school catchment areas and the impact on property prices.

There are numerous factors that affect which school a child will be accepted into. The two most significant are:

• Having a sibling already at the school
• Whether or not you live in the school’s catchment area.

What is a School Catchment Area?

A school catchment area is an area within the immediate vicinity of a school. So the closer you live to a school, the more chance your child has of securing a place there. That’s the theory behind it anyway, and it plays a big part in driving property prices in an area.

To find out the details of a school’s catchment area, contact the school directly or speak to the local council.

Note that catchment areas can change at any time, so the school will have the most up to date information.

How do School Catchment Areas Affect Property Prices?

Parents prioritize their children’s education, making school choice crucial.

Outstanding Ofsted ratings can significantly increase property values in catchment areas. So it’s understandable why parents will go to extraordinary lengths to get their children into individual schools.

Desperate parents may use false addresses to secure school places. 

Properties in top school catchment areas command a significant premium. 

Well-performing schools stabilize property values, even during market downturns. As long as the local school continues to perform well, there will always be a high demand for properties in the catchment area.

The flip side of this is that underperforming schools can hinder property value appreciation. Properties that are close to underperforming schools will not have such a premium placed on them. 

How you can get a Property Bargain in the Catchment Area of Your Choice!

The key to this is research. Take a look at the schools in the area where you’re looking to buy and dig into the details.

Most buyers will do a quick Google search to find the latest Ofsted report of their chosen school and consider it a job done. If a school is outstanding or good, they’ll look for properties in that catchment area, and if it’s a school that is inadequate or requires improvement, they’ll ignore the area completely.

But if you take a closer look at the schools, you might be surprised at what you find. Kent County Council KCC website link for choosing a school: https://bit.ly/3UCPHEk

Schools that are rated good by Ofsted will only be inspected approximately every four years, while schools that are rated as outstanding don’t have routine inspections at all.

Therefore, it’s possible, but unlikely that these schools may be letting their standards slip as they’re not being checked regularly.

What’s more likely, and this is where you might be able to grab a property bargain, is that a school that’s been rated as ‘requiring improvement’ could actually have significantly improved and be on the rise.

It’s entirely feasible that drastic changes have occurred since the previous inspection, particularly if a new headteacher has been appointed or a strong senior leadership team has come into the school.

Suddenly, a school that requires improvement could find itself getting a good rating at the next inspection, leading to an improved reputation in the area, and of course, a rise in property prices in the catchment area.

So make sure you take the time to look into what’s behind that last Ofsted rating because the school might be about to take a turn for the better. And if you’re in the know before those who haven’t bothered to do their research, you could find the perfect property before prices shoot up.

What to do Next

Its best to get in touch with the school, and ask for a tour or meeting with the headteacher. This should give you a good idea of how the school is performing up close.

Spiller Brooks Estate Agents are your local award winning property experts for the Whitstable area. Use our property search (map view) https://spillerbrooks.co.uk/search/to find properties in your chosen school catchment area. 

Call us on 01227 272155 or email info@spillerbrooks.co.uk to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.