Catchment if you can

GCSE and A-level results are out and parents have started to scan the league tables, gearing up to fight their way through the school-admissions lottery to get their children a good secondary education.

With fees at private schools rising well above inflation, and standards of state education alarmingly uneven, places in London's and the Home Counties' best state schools are sought-after.

Many parents are prepared to move to be in the catchment area of a popular comprehensive or within an easy commute of a selective state school to improve their children's chances of a place. And they will pay handsomely for the privilege, pushing up house prices.

In Orpington, Kent, homes within the catchment area of soughtafter schools have risen by around 20 per cent in the past two years, says Phil Cantell of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward.

In fact, over the past year, parents moving for their children's education have sustained an otherwise flat property market in some areas. " Our figures show that volume of sales was 20 per cent down on last year. But prices were not hard hit because schools are a big draw. It's better to pay another £250 on your mortgage than face school fees," says Simon Lord of Lords in Kingston. The borough has a clutch of excellent primary schools operating tight catchment areas, as well as two top-performing selective grammar schools.

Kingston is one of seven boroughs with grammar schools, the others being Barnet, Bromley, Bexley, Enfield, Sutton and Redbridge. Between them they have 19 grammar schools that compete consistently with independent schools for top places in GCSE and A-level league tables.

A range of criteria is used to allocate places. Some schools make offers on the results of entrance tests, but others have catchment areas or discourage long commutes. Entrance tests will take place up to 12 months before enrolment. So, if you have your heart set on a selective school and need to move, start planning now.