Many buyers with kids are looking for properties in areas that have high-quality schools. It can be a confusing and overwhelming process to find the right home in the best location. There are so many factors to take into consideration.
How do you determine what catchment area a particular property falls into and how you can use this information when searching for your new home? For help from Stroud Estate Agents, visit www.tgres.co.uk/stroud-estate-agents/
A school catchment area
A school catchment is an area around a particular school from which it will draw the majority of students. The exact distance that the catchment area is based on can change each year as local populations shift.
Not all children who live in the catchment area of a school are guaranteed a spot, but it increases their chances. It is also worth noting that some schools do not use a catchment system. To find out if your school does, you can check their website.
Local councils usually work out catchment areas by examining these factors:
- Distance between school and home – this is the most common method.
- The school closest to your home is the one that is nearest (in proximity, not a distance measurement).
- The distance between school and home is measured by ‘how far the crow flies’, which does not take into consideration the route.
- Priority admission areas – Some schools prioritise students from certain towns and villages when determining their catchment (this is often the case for schools located in rural areas or with large populations).
What catchment area is your future home in?
There are two ways to find out if the houses you’re looking at are in the catchment area of the schools you want. School Guide can be a useful tool. You just need to enter the postcode of the property into the search box and it will show you the nearest schools and their catchment area.
If you call the school, ask if it has a system of catchment areas and, if so, which area they cover.
What are some other factors that can influence the effectiveness of catchment areas?
You should also consider that other factors can affect a student’s eligibility to study in a particular catchment area. Below are listed some of the most important factors.
- If a student has a sibling who is already enrolled at a school, they have an increased chance of being accepted. Admissions are given to these students by many schools.
- If a child already attends a school’s nursery, this can increase their chances of being accepted into the primary school. Students who attend a primary and secondary school together will have an increased chance of being accepted into the secondary school.
