In order to give their children the best possible chance of securing a place in their chosen school, 25% of home-movers are looking to relocate to be within a specific school catchment area. While 1 in 6 parents buy or rent a second property for the same reason, according to this study reported in The Guardian.

This increased demand for properties within the catchment areas of schools with strong reputations and outstanding Ofsted reports has a significant effect on house prices, adding up to a 20% premium onto the cost of a house according to the Mortgage Advice Bureau. 



So here are our tips for snatching a property within your chosen school's catchment area...

 BE READY TO MOVE
When the right home becomes available you need to be ready to move quickly. This is made easier if you can plan as far in advance as possible, so start thinking about schools before the rush. 

The deadline date for primary school applications is 15th January and for secondary schools, it is 31st October. 

BE PREPARED TO PAY... OR DOWNSIZE
As noted above, a good school catchment can add 20% to the value of a property, so you may get a lot less house for your money. As such, you need to carefully balance educational needs against spacial requirements for your family.

RESEARCH
You will need to know what the catchment areas are for particular schools if you're looking to move into one. So why not give Cardiff's leading independent estate agent a call, we can discuss any questions you may have and advise you of your best options based on your situation and requirements. 

Roath - 02920 484 898
Cyncoed - 02920 761 999
Pontcanna - 02920 344 434

We can also provide insightful area profiles which give information on local schools, amenities, transport and the property market, such as this one on postcode CF11-6. 

APPLYING
The general advice is that you should apply to your chosen school(s) at least 6 weeks before they are due to start, however, the earlier you begin the process the better. Particularly if you aren't successful with your first choice. 
You’ll need to have some sort of proof of your new address. Usually, a school will accept a solicitors letter as proof if you’ve not already moved in.

To see more details on applying for schools, see the Gov.Uk site.

Thanks for reading, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us – we’d love to hear from you! 
 
The Moginie James Team

PS: Want to get a SOLD or LET sign outside your property quicker?
Call our team on 02920 730887 or email: homelife@moginiejames.co.uk for honest, expert and friendly advice.