Education, Education, Education - Buying with good schools in mind

Surrey is blessed with some of the South East’s most outstanding primary, secondary and independent schools, and the county is also home to a number of prized grammars. Your address may play a part in the success of a school application, so it pays to think carefully when researching your next move.

Many families start to think about their location when their children are very young and some couples will buy a property with a good school in mind before they have even become parents. In many cases, competition for places is fierce. Here we discuss what parents should take into consideration if they want to be in the best position when making a school application.

State schools & addresses

Although the distance from the school may not be at the top of the admissions criteria, how close you are to the gates may work in your favour should the school be oversubscribed - distance is often used in a tie break situation. Catchment, however, rarely take the shape of a circle with the school in the middle, so it’s worth contacting your desired school for their exact catchment boundaries. We can help you find properties for sale in the roads that really count.

Application deadlines

If you are applying for a state primary or secondary school, you will need to ensure you have completed purchase of a new property by the time you make your admission application. Surrey County Council details these deadlines on its website but generally primary school applications have to be made by January for the following year’s admission, and secondary applications by October. If you’re buying with a deadline in mind, let us know and we can push through your purchase and any associated sale.

Fee-paying & independent schools

Many of Surrey’s fee-paying schools admit purely on the results on a common entrance test, so, distance to the school is not crucial. It is worth bearing in mind, however, the travel distance and traffic conditions during the drop off and collection times. Our staff can advise you on traffic hot spots as well as journey times between a property and a school you are interested in.

Grammar secondary schooling

Surrey has a number of respected grammar schools and the admission criteria does vary from school to school. It is worth checking whether your chosen grammar admits on score only, distance only or a mix of the two. It is possible the school will have an inner catchment area, with pupils within this being offered places first. To qualify for a grammar school place, a child will need to sit and pass the 11+ selection test then follow the normal state school application process.

Contact us for information on education options available in the Surrey town you plan to move to and to book viewings to homes that have caught your eye.

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