Can your local school affect your house price?

House prices near top schools have been in the news recently, as according to Lloyds Bank the values of properties located close to top schools have climbed by 35%, or £104,356. Do you consider a property’s catchment area when searching for a new home? Perhaps you should.It’s never too early to think about school catchments. Whether you have children or are planning on starting a family in the near future, the location of your home is very important. Even nursery places are filling up fast as parents prepare for their little one’s future.It’s important to remember that your catchment school is not automatically your nearest school. You can check which catchment area you’re in, or that of a potential new home, online for Newport, Torfaen and Monmouthshire.If you have children going to primary school or comprehensive school next September you will soon be asked to request your preferences, and living in the catchment will certainly help. We often work with couples and families moving to ensure their child gets a place in a specific school and now is the time to make your move.Bassaleg SchoolRanked as one of Newport’s best schools, Estyn has given Bassaleg School an overall performance rating of Good. Families are keen for their children to attend the excellent local primary schools before securing their place in this popular comprehensive school.Caerleon Comprehensive SchoolLocated in the Roman village of Caerleon, Estyn gave Caerleon Comprehensive School an overall performance rating of Excellent. Families are encouraged to ensure that they are living in the catchment area to ensure their child gets a place in the high-ranking high school.Caldicot SchoolBoasting an impressive attendance record, Estyn gave Caldicot School an overall performance rating of Good. Overall, the school achieves well-above standard results with 66.2% of pupils gaining at least 5 A* to C grade GCSEs in 2017.King Henry VIII SchoolAlthough Estyn gave King Henry VIII School an overall performance rating of Adequate, the comprehensive school continues to attain excellent GCSE results with 62.3% of pupuils achieving at least 5 A* to C grades last year.St. Joseph’s RC High SchoolThis Roman Catholic school was given an overall performance rating of Excellent by Estyn, boasting 68.3% of their pupils achieving an A to C grade in their GCSEs in 2017. The school continues to improve year on year with an above average attendance record.Santander Mortgages have revealed that in Wales the average price of property is £148,894, with parents paying an average premium of £15,499 to live in the school catchment area. We’re not at all surprised by these figures; we are fortunate to have several well-ranked schools in the areas that we cover, and regularly find the motivation for buyers to move is that they want to live within one of these catchment areas.Do you know the schools within your catchment area? Perhaps it’s time you thought about where you would like your child to be educated before it’s too late. If you have a property to sell you can contact our team on 01633 870777 or, if you’re looking for a new home within a new catchment area, view our properties for sale at http://hathways.co.uk/market/residential-sales/.