Report claims being near good schools drives up house prices

A survey in the Evening Standard has claimed that living near to certain schools in Putney could add up to £40,000 to the value of your home.

The report singles out Our Lady of Victories RC Primary and All Saints CofE which are both heavily over-subscribed. Our Lady of Victories gets over 70 applications each year for just 28 places. However, there is scepticism amongst some local parents about the conclusions of the report.

A parent at one of the schools mentioned in the report contacted us to dispute the conclusions of the report. She said, "I wish it were true but the school doesn't really have a clearly defined catchment area. Living in the Parish is important but that covers most of Putney. An equivalent house or flat isn't going to be much different in price based on proximity to the school."

She added that she felt that the misconception was based on misleading information given by estate agents who tell prospective buyers that living in a particular street will guarantee them access to a school when it does not.

The key criteria for entry into All Saints school is that parents are actively involved in the work of the Parish of St Mary with All Saints. For Our Lady of Victories you need to be a regular worshipper at St. Simon's Parish and have a reference from the Parish Priest when applying. Both schools take children from across the SW15 post code area.

January 12, 2010