If you have bought your house expecting it to guarantee a place in your child’s local school, think again.
In the white-hot London property market the battle over homes and the best schools is bloodier than ever. And the casualties are the families buying only to get their kids into the right school.
The truth about entry into the top South London schools
In our neck of the woods in South London, we have discovered some surprising news about The Charter School in Dulwich, one of the most popular state secondary schools south of the river. We have discovered that none of the children from the usual feeder primary school, local to The Charter School has been accepted this year. Not a single one.
Families expecting their children to get into Charter - classed as outstanding by Ofsted since 2006 - who lived further up the same road on Red Post Hill, Dulwich, didn’t even get in. So what hope is there for any local families - many of whom bought in the area just so they could get their child’s foot in the door?
Don't rely on the usual rules on school catchment areas
It just goes to show that you cannot - and must not - rely on school catchment areas when you are buying your home these days. It cannot guarantee your child a place in an already oversubscribed school in the capital.
Be wary of estate agents over-selling the catchment area
Too many estate agents over-egg the school catchment areas to prospective home buyers, but we refuse to follow suit. We cannot condone saying a particular house is in a particular catchment area, because the boundaries change all the time. Plus there are so many other factors at play. Especially in the secondary school sector.
There is more to think about than catchment areas
Rules change. It could be a big year for siblings. There may be other social reasons that are not advertised by the school or the local council.
And some of the major property portals are way off the mark when it comes to drawing up their catchment area boundaries anyway - or rely on outdated information - so never count on that.
For the aforementioned Charter, the school uses an independent agency to determine the distance of homes from the school - using a computerised geographical system. It measures the distance from each applicant’s home to the designated main entrance of the school by the shortest safe walking distance route in metres. But as this is done as the crow flies, it is impossible to pinpoint exactly where they mean.
The crazy routes to the top schools
In the Charter admissions policy they even differentiate between multiple applications from blocks of flats, where: ‘lower door numbers will take priority’. This just shows how insane the whole process is.
Unless your new home happens to the in the school playground, then don’t bank on your little darling getting in the front door. Buy for the right reasons; don’t let your hopes be dashed.
Don’t be swayed by bad advice
We always give you our honest opinions and the unvarnished truth. Buy the best home you can, in an area you like, for the right reasons. We can help you every step of the way - and our happy clients and five star reviews are testimony to this. Let us educate you.
Call Urban Village today and get a free valuation today