The areas around some of England’s top 30 state secondary schools have become property hotspots as many parents are keen on securing a home nearby, new Lloyds Bank research shows.
A comparison of house prices shows that the postal districts of the top 30 schools in 2015 were £40,728, or 13 per cent, higher on average than the neighbouring locations in their counties.
Overall prices in school postal districts now stand at £344,446 on average, which is more than nine times (9.2 times) the average gross annual income. This is also considerably higher compared to the England average property price of £267,956, equal to 7.7 times the average gross annual earnings.
While overall prices for the top 30 may be high, the research shows that more than half (16) of the best state secondary schools in England are located in places with an average property price below their neighbouring areas’ average.
“In general, homes close to the nation’s top performing state schools command a significant premium over neighbouring areas. The presence of a top performing state school appears to help support property values in many of these locations as parents compete with other buyers to land the property that gives their child the best possible chance to attend their chosen school, ” Andrew Mason, Lloyds Bank mortgages director, said.
The postal districts of the top performing secondary state schools in seven of the nine English regions command a house price premium compared to their county average. The North West has the largest premium with average house prices in the postal districts of the top ten state schools in the region trading at £66,398 (39 per cent) above the average house price in their county. This is followed by East Anglia (£48,642 or 20 per cent) and the South East (£45,871 or 15 per cent).
On the other hand, homes in the East Midlands and the South West that are close to the best performing state schools are, on average, around £6,600 (or 3 per cent) lower than in neighbouring locations.
House prices in postal districts of the highest ranked secondary state schools in England 2015 – House prices above county/borough average
| School | Postal District | County | Average House Price 2015 (£) | Average House Price in County 2015(£) | Premium to County 2015 £ | Premium to County 2015 % |
| Beaconsfield High School | HP9 | Buckinghamshire | 978,299 | 342,166 | 636,132 | 186% |
| The Henrietta Barnett School | NW11 | Barnet | 971,882 | 553,023 | 418,860 | 76% |
| St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School | BR6 | Kent | 463,969 | 283,521 | 180,447 | 64% |
| The Tiffin Girls’ School | KT2 | Kingston Upon Thames | 631,593 | 493,928 | 137,665 | 28% |
| Tiffin School | KT2 | Kingston Upon Thames | 631,593 | 493,928 | 137,665 | 28% |
| Altrincham Grammar School for Girls | WA14 | Cheshire | 347,322 | 219,151 | 128,171 | 58% |
| Stratford Girls’ Grammar School | CV37 | Warwickshire | 336,746 | 243,340 | 93,405 | 38% |
| King Edward VI School | CV37 | Warwickshire | 336,746 | 243,340 | 93,405 | 38% |
| The Skinners’ School | TN4 | Kent | 371,149 | 283,521 | 87,628 | 31% |
| South Wilts Grammar School for Girls | SP1 | Wiltshire | 281,467 | 237,472 | 43,994 | 19% |
| Top thirty State Schools average | 344,466 | 303,738 | 40,728 | 13% |
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House prices in postal districts of the highest ranked secondary state schools in England 2015 – House prices below county/borough average
| School | Postal District | County | Average House Price 2015 (£) | Average House Price in County 2015 (£) | Discount to County 2015 £ | Discount to County 2015 % |
| Aylesbury High School | HP21 | Buckinghamshire | 219,661 | 342,166 | -122,506 | -36% |
| Reading School | RG1 | Berkshire | 237,209 | 356,694 | -119,485 | -33% |
| Kendrick School | RG1 | Berkshire | 237,209 | 356,694 | -119,485 | -33% |
| Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet | EN5 | Barnet | 457,341 | 553,023 | -95,681 | -17% |
| Westcliff High School for Boys Academy | SS0 | Essex | 212,529 | 271,499 | -58,970 | -22% |
| Sir Thomas Rich’s School | GL2 | Gloscestershire | 203,107 | 252,788 | -49,681 | -20% |
| King Edward VI Five Ways School | B32 | West Midlands | 138,759 | 178,170 | -39,411 | -22% |
| Pate’s Grammar School | GL51 | Gloscestershire | 215,998 | 252,788 | -36,790 | -15% |
| Langley Grammar School | SL3 | Berkshire | 322,342 | 356,694 | -34,352 | -10% |
| Colchester Royal Grammar School | CO3 | Essex | 252,130 | 271,499 | -19,369 | -7% |
| Top thirty State Schools average | 344,466 | 303,738 | 40,728 | 13% |
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The top 30 table is based on the best GCSE results achieved by secondary schools in 2014.
