TOWNS where it’s CHEAPER to live near some of Britain’s top schools have been revealed.
Most house-hunters know finding a property near a good school means usually forking out more money to buy it.
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However in Wakefield, houses in areas with schools rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted are actually 32 per cent cheaper than those in the city that are not close to an ‘outstanding’ school.
Homes in Wakefield near ‘outstanding’ schools cost £210,137 on average – while properties without are worth £307,866, according to research carried out by money.co.uk.
Wolverhampton comes in second, with areas in the city that are close to ‘outstanding’ schools costing £182,181 on average compared to £234,242 without – a difference of 22 per cent.
The city is home to historic schools including Wolverhampton Grammar School, The Royal School and Tettenhall College.
Watford has the third-highest percentage difference between areas with and without ‘outstanding’ schools.
Houses in the town that are not near ‘outstanding’ schools cost £669,635 on average, while those that are close to top schools cost £553,283 , making them 17 per cent cheaper.
Meanwhile, a property expert has revealed his top tips for parents to purchase the right home to help with secondary school admissions.
Sam Mitchell, CEO of online estate agent Strike, says: “Choosing a home and a school are two big decisions that are often linked for parents, but neither is an easy decision.”
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His top pieces of advice are don’t get too fussed on one particular school – and do your research.
Sam said: “Even if you move, you might not secure a place.
“Instead, find an area that covers a few schools you like the look of and where you want to call home.
“Sites such as Rightmove have made the process easier by adding a list of schools in the area of each property, alongside a link to their Ofsted report where you can find out more.
“Visit local schools in person too.”
