About to sell a house in the St Matthews / Parkside catchment area

[Pinkpeony67]

Does anyone have recent experience of doing this either as a buyer or seller? I know the estate agents do their bit but I'm wondering if there are any good forums get the word out there? Should we actively be promoting the school thing - it's why we moved here! But now we're done and looking for a new challenge. I've mentally packed the house up and ready to go!!

I think it does matter to a lot to couples and young families as schools are one of the most important reasons people move (back) to Cambridge from places like London. With St Matthew's the combination of a good school and easy access to train station will attract couples where at least one of them expects to commute to London. I have recent experience as a buyer, my thoughts:

1. schools are ridiculously oversubscribed, a lot more than 2-3 years ago. For example in Romsey, being in St Phillips' or Ridgefield's catchment area doesn't matter anymore, even if you are in the catchment, you have to live within 0.1miles(!) or have an older sibling there. So before you advertise, check this year's effective catchment area and perhaps ask the school whether a reception year pupil would actually get in from there. Here is a document from the council website which shows you now have to live within 0.598miles of St Matthews to get a place without an appeal: infinit.io/_/33sR53N

1. Unfortunately, most eventual buyers are buy-to-let investors and mysterious cash buyers. We are first time buyers with a mortgage, and most of our offers were eventually outbid by investors like that. So advertising school catchment is great for young couples, as your location is desirable for investors, couples with kids are unlikely to actually buy it. Also, buy-to-let investors love school catchments too, as they can charge higher rents.

1. Most parents who are obsessed with the catchment area thing would have already done their research and know where they want a house based on that. Still, I would find it reassuring to see some info on school catchment in the property details thing, particularly if it referenced this year's admissions not just catchments.