For many parents, finding a home in the catchment area of their preferred school is their top priority when looking for a new place to live. But with house prices near Scotland’s top state schools coming at a high premium, it pays to research before you buy.

The battle for school places

Catchment areas for schools are identified by postal district. While you can apply to schools outside of your catchment area, the best schools are likely to be oversubscribed.

For parents wanting to move to a popular catchment area, early planning is essential. School places are allocated during the year before the child starts school, sometimes as early as the autumn term. The child may need to be resident in the catchment area to be included – evidence of a house purchase isn’t enough.

Malcolm Leslie, Partner in Charge of Residential at our Edinburgh office says, “You really have to be on your toes. Houses in popular catchment areas are in high demand when they come up, and sell quickly.”

The house price lottery

Although the average house price premium in the catchment areas for Scotland’s 20 top schools is around £41,000, there’s a lot of variation between districts.

Homes in the catchment area for Edinburgh’s top performing Boroughmuir High School cost on average around £122,000 more than properties in neighbouring areas. But in Glasgow, average house prices near Jordanhill, Scotland’s top performing school, are only 2% (£3,521) more than Glasgow’s average house price.

So, there are options to access the best schools, whatever your budget. But which state secondary schools are currently topping the charts and where should you look to buy?

Scotland’s housing hotspots

East Renfrewshire

With three schools in Scotland’s top ten (St Ninian’s High School, Williamwood High School and Mearns Castle High School), East Renfrewshire has become one of the hottest property markets in Scotland. As prices are set to rise by more than 20% over the next five years, buying a home here could be a good investment.

East Dunbartonshire

Another of Glasgow’s suburbs with prices on the rise, East Dunbartonshire is home to the top-performing Bearsden Academy and Douglas Academy. With an easy commute to Glasgow, many families are choosing to set up home on the outskirts of the city.

Edinburgh City

Around one in four children in Edinburgh attend a fee-paying secondary school, but demand for the best state schools is still high. “Properties close to top state secondary schools, and specifically within their catchment areas, are in hot demand and move quickly for competitive prices,” says Andrew Riddell, Associate in our Edinburgh City team. “We frequently talk to buyers who are looking for homes within the catchment areas of top performing schools, particularly James Gillespie’s High School and Boroughmuir High School.”

Glasgow

House prices around Scotland’s top-performing school, Jordanhill, are significantly lower than many other school catchment areas. However, Jordanhill is unique in that it’s funded directly by the Scottish Government and has its own Admission Regulations. It gives priority to applicants living in designated ‘local’ addresses and children with siblings at the school.

West Lothian

West Lothian is perfectly situated for commuting to Edinburgh or Glasgow and with Linlithgow Academy in Scotland’s top ten schools, there’s an added attraction for families. Malcolm Leslie agrees. “West Lothian is very popular. We have people on our mailing list who have specifically requested properties in the catchment area for Linlithgow Academy.”

Aberdeen City

A home in the catchment area of Aberdeen’s Cults Academy carries a whopping 52% premium on the local authority average, but this may not just be down to the school. Along with the nearby commuter villages of Bieldside and Milltimber, Cults is situated in one of Scotland’s wealthiest – and most expensive – postcode areas.

East Lothian

With excellent schools, including the popular North Berwick High School, seaside villages and an easy commute to Edinburgh, East Lothian is a popular area for families. “Prices are often significantly higher inside the good school catchment areas,” says Malcolm, “but it’s not all about the schools. Many people move to East Lothian to improve their quality of life.”