Price of living near best school? £16,000

EDUCATION EDITOR PARENTS are paying up to 10 per cent more to live close to the best state secondary schools, new analysis by the Government shows.

Houses in the catchment area of top comprehensive secondary schools are almost £16,000 more expensive, while houses near the best primary schools cost an extra £19,000.

Ministers say that this proves the case for grammar schools, as they argue that selection based on academic ability is fairer than “selection by house prices”.

The Department for Education (DfE) reviewed property prices across the country and compared the price of houses in the most sought after areas for good schools with the average house price in England, which is £233,000.

Researchers found that the cost of houses near the best-performing 10 per cent of primary schools are eight per cent higher than those in the surrounding areas, while homes near the 10 per cent best non-selective secondaries are valued 6.8 per cent higher than those nearby.

“This new analysis sheds a light on how far selection by house price is restricting ordinary parents’ access to the best schools,” said Nick Gibb, the minister for schools standards.

Proposals put forward by ministers for a forthcoming White Paper include creating more school places and lifting the ban on grammars.