Renting in top School Catchment Areas - does it really work?

When looking for a new home in Chiswick, families’ decisions are often driven by the proximity to good schools. Preferably within a short walk of an ‘outstanding’ school.

Chiswick offers a wide selection of outstanding schools  and in theory, the closer you live to a good school, the more likely you are to be in a ‘catchment area’. Although decisions also depend on how high 'proximity' appears on the school's admission priorities.

Families opt to rent so they can move fast to buy a home close to London’s top schools, while others pace the area to find a house that falls within leading state schools catchments.

WHAT COMES FIRST – THE PRIME AREA OR THE SCHOOL?

According to a lettings agency chain Winkworth, renting is just one of the desperate measures taken to secure a place at a leading school in the capital. In the latest episode of The Property Exchange podcast, Winkworth’s CEO Dominic Agace says: "Look around London where the famous schools are and the neighbourhoods are equally famous – St Paul’s in Barnes, Highgate School in N6, the American School in St John’s Wood.

“There are streets where people rent to try to wait for a house to come up for sale. Availability is really the issue. There aren’t the houses coming up for sale in these areas.”

'ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION'

Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of the Good Schools Guide, responds: “In the eyes of parents, there is a very clear hierarchy. At the top, there is St Paul’s, Westminster and, very close behind is King’s College School in Wimbledon. For girls, St Paul’s again, Godolphin & Latymer and a number of others across London.

“These schools are ferociously difficult to get into and even if your child does gets  place, they really need to be able to keep up. Parents should err on the side of great caution before upping sticks and moving house in the hope their child will win a place because the chances are tiny.”

 “Places are at a premium," she continues. "You either need to be a regular churchgoer or live very close by. If you can get that golden ticket, undoubtedly, you’re on to a winner.

“Around the more affluent areas, there are some fantastic primary schools. In Clapham, parents are out with pedometers to double check their distance to the school gates. You need to be within 250 metres of the school gates to get a place.”

Chiswick Schools catchment areas: for example, St Mary's Catholic Primary School Chiswick, catchment area pdf

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