Whether you are buying a property to live in or buying a property to rent out one of the questions you should ask yourself is what are the schools like in the area? Most of the information you require can be obtained online: OFSTED reports, GCSE results, teacher to pupil ratios, children entitled to free school meals etc.
The quality of the area’s schools should be one of the key factors you take into consideration when you purchase a buy-to-let property. Families renting out properties want to send their children to good quality schools and like buyers are willing to pay a premium to rent in these areas.
According to the latest report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), buyers will pay an average 8% premium on a home that is located within the catchment area of a so-called ‘good school’.
But this works the other way around too and if the local school gets a bad Ofsted report, you can expect the same amount to be wiped off your home’s value.
RICS spokesperson, Jeremy Leaf, says: “It is quite normal for potential buyers to check the local Ofsted reports before they even read the particulars for their preferred properties.”
Comparison Of Two State Secondary Comprehensive Schools
GEORGE SPENCER ACADEMY, ARTHUR MEE ROAD, NOTTINGHAM NG9 7EW
OFSTED REPORT 27-28 APRIL 2010
INSPECTION POSSIBLE GRADES
1 = OUSTANDING, 2 = GOOD, 3 = SATISFACTORY, 4 = INADEQUATE
- Overall Effectiveness Of How Good The School Is = 1
- Schools Capacity For Sustained Improvement = 1
These are the grades for pupils outcomes:-
- Pupils achievements and the extent to which they enjoy their learning = 1
Taking into account the following:-
- Pupils attainment = 1
- The quality of pupils learning and their progress = 1
- The quality of learning for pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities and their progress = 1
- The extent to which pupils feel safe = 1
- Pupils behaviour = 1
- The extent to which pupils develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well being = 1
The quality of teaching is exceptionally high, particularly in years 10-11 where the majority of teaching was outstanding. By year 9 almost all students have gained a GCSE (equivalent) qualification in information and communication technology reflecting the schools technical specialism. The school provided an impressive range of out of school activities including competitive sports which the school excels at. Participation rates are very high.
- Quality of teaching = 1
- The extent to which the curriculum meets pupils needs = 1
- The effectiveness of care, guidance and support = 1
- The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding and driving improvement = 1
The excellent OFSTED results didn’t feed through to the sixth form in which overall the school received a 2 grading
Other statistics for the school
- PUPIL COUNT 1365
- BOYS 52% GIRLS 48%
- % OF PUPILS ENTITED TO FREE SCHOOL MEALS =8%
- % OF PUPILS WITH ENGLISH NOT AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE = 4.6%
- ABSENCE % = 5%% OF PUPILS ACHEIVEING 5 OR MORE A*-C GCSE’S INCLUDING ENGLISH AND MATHS
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| School | 72 | 77 | 73 | 76 |
| Local Authority | 58 | 61 | 63 | 58 |
| England All Schools | 59 | 59 | 59 | 53 |
- RATIO OF PUPILS TO TEACHERS 14.1
- ENGLAND STATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS 15
CHILWELL SCHOOL, QUEENS ROAD WEST, CHILWELL, NG9 5AL
OFSTED REPORT 7-8 OCTOBER 2014
- Overall Effectiveness = 2
- Leadership And Management = 2
- Behaviour And Safety Of Pupils = 2
- Quality Of Teaching = 2
- Achievement Of Pupils =2
- 849 PUPILS, BOYS = 50.8%, GIRLS = 49.2%
- FREE SCHOOL MEALS = 10.5%
- % OF PUPILS WITH ENGLISH NOT AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE = 9%
- ABSENCE % = 6.3%
RATIO OF PUPILS TO TEACHERS 13.5
% OF PUPILS ACHIEVING 5 OR MORE A*-C GCSE’S INCLUDING MATHS AND ENGLISH
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| School | 49 | 58 | 57 | 64 |
| Local Authority | 58 | 61 | 63 | 58 |
| England All Schools | 59 | 59 | 59 | 53 |
There are obviously other factors to take into account when purchasing a buy-to-let but schooling is a very important factor and if the decision was to buy in the George Spencer catchment area or the Chilwell Comprehensive area then the decision would be very easy.
George Spencer achieve consistently high grade A*-C including maths and English whereas Chilwell comprehensive only perform in line with the rest of the state schools in England. George Spencer achieve these results despite an inferior pupils to teacher ratio of 14.1 compared with Chilwell’s 13.5.
The OFSTED report for George Spencer is an 1 (outstanding) whereas Chilwell’s was a 2 (good), Chilwell’s was higher than their last report which was a 3 (satisfactory).
George Spencer also have a better absence % at 5% compared to Chilwell’s 6.3%
If you are thinking about purchasing a buy-to-let property call Belvoir Long Eaton the property experts and we will help you make the right decision.
