Top marks: family homes for sale near England's best primary schools

These homes are top of the class

Rightmove

Thanks to amazing teachers and ever-improving facilities, an increasing number of primary schools in England are attaining excellent standards. And it's no secret that living near a good state school pushes up the price of homes in their catchment area, sometimes by up to 12%. Here we look at the top 11 establishments for kids aged 4-11 based on the government's most recent primary school results and rankings and find properties close by that make the grade too.

Nancledra Primary School, Penzance, Cornwall

Courtesy Google Maps

In the south of Cornwall, 15 minutes from Penzance, is Nancledra Primary School. Ranking at number 11 on the top schools' list, nearly a third of pupils exceed national standards in the core subjects of reading, writing and maths at the end of year 6.

Three-bedroom house, Nancledra, Penzance, £450,000

Rightmove

Homes in this part of West Cornwall can be pricey, but this three-bedroom detached house with a large garden shows what's available if you do a little digging. This home is part of a development in the village offering new builds with contemporary features and a modern design for less than £500,000.

Three-bedroom house, Nancledra, Penzance, £450,000

Rightmove

The living space is large, with a contemporary wood burner, as well as eco-friendly heating and cooling. Upstairs there are three spacious bedrooms, one with an ensuite, as well as a family bathroom. The house is for sale with Rightmove.

Burton Agnes Church of England Primary School, East Riding of Yorkshire

Courtesy Google Maps

Burton Agnes Church of England Primary School was recently rated Good in an Ofsted inspection (The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) and is held in high regard by both parents and teachers alike. It ranks joint ninth, with all students meeting national standards in the core subjects.

Four-bedroom house, Harpham, Driffield, £430,000

OnTheMarket

Unfortunately for prospective buyers, Burton Agnes is a very small village, and finding a home there something of a waiting game. But the school has a relatively wide catchment area so other local villages, such as Harpham, can get a look in too.

Four-bedroom house, Harpham, Driffield, £430,000

OnTheMarket

The Good School Guide shows a number of pupils go to Burton Agnes primary from Harpham and this four-bedroom home is around the average price for a detached property in the area.

Four-bedroom house, Harpham, Driffield, £430,000

OnTheMarket

This is a spacious property filled with character and period touches. It's a perfect family home with a fantastic garden, countryside views and good access to local amenities in nearby Driffield, and York and Hull beyond. View the property here or see OntheMarket for others in the area.

John Blow Primary School, Newark, Nottinghamshire

Courtsey Google Maps

Joint 9th in the best performing schools list is John Blow Primary School in Collingham, near Newark. As well as excellent results, a good Ofsted report and above average achievements in all areas, the school focuses on sports and arts offering a wide range of activities for pupils.

Four-bedroom cottage, Collingham, Newark, £500,000

Rightmove

This exceptional four-bedroom home is close to the school, and it's a Grade II-listed building, with a thatched roof, built in the 16th century. It's on the market for £500,000 with Rightmove.

Four-bedroom cottage, Collingham, Newark, £500,000

Rightmove

The cottage is nestled within the Collingham Conservation area and the garden has been carefully tended with mature trees and shrubs. And despite having that feeling of a walled secret garden there's still plenty of space for children to play.

Four-bedroom cottage, Collingham, Newark, £500,000

Rightmove

Inside the exposed beam work runs throughout the main reception rooms and the spacious kitchen/diner. There are two separate living areas, which could be renovated or extended, offering various options when it comes to the layout. There's also a huge family living area or 'den' that could be converted into a playroom or hobby room.

Burley and Woodhead Church of England Primary School, Ilkley, West Yorkshire

Twitter/Burley And Woodhead Church of England Primary School

Located around 15 miles northwest of Leeds, Burley and Woodhead Church of England Primary School's vision is impressive: "When children leave our school, they will be respectful, resilient, confident, caring individuals with a love of learning, who are ambitious future leaders of their local and global community." And it's doing a good job, sitting comfortably in the top 10 best primary schools in the country.

Four-bedroom home, Burley in Wharfedale, £489,500

Rightmove

This detached four-bedroom home in Far Mead Croft has been on the market for just above the area's average of £455,745 and is a stone's throw from the primary school. It's also close to Leeds and Bradford and a short drive from the beautiful walks of the Yorkshire Moors.

Four-bedroom home, Burley in Wharfedale, £489,500

Rightmove

One of its key features is the open-plan kitchen-dining area, recently updated with modern fittings and fixtures, a family dining table, and concealed low lighting. There's also a family bathroom, integrated double garage, and further off-road parking to the front.

Four-bedroom home, Burley in Wharfedale, £489,500

Rightmove

There's also an attractive landscaped garden and patio for outdoor entertaining and a lawn area perfect for the children to play on while the adults watch from a distance. Click here for other homes for sale in the area.

Frisby Church of England Primary School, Leicestershire

Courtesy Google Maps

Frisby Church of England Primary School near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire is another small local school in the country's top 1% and ranked 7th in the country. Over half of its pupils achieve over expected levels in the three Rs and it scores well over the national average for both reading and maths skills. It also emphasises the importance of cultural and sports learning alongside the academic curriculum.

Four-bedroom home, Frisby-on-the-Wreake, £425,000

Prime Location

The village of Frisby-on-the-Wreake itself is tiny and attractive, with a small population. It's close to the amenities of larger towns and the small school draws pupils from both the village itself and others in the district.

Four-bedroom home, Frisby-on-the-Wreake, £425,000

Prime Location

The property offers a great feeling of space and light, with a bright open entrance and staircase. An open-plan extension leads to the landscaped large garden, with a summerhouse which could make a children's playroom or home office space.

Four-bedroom home, Frisby-on-the-Wreake, £425,000

Prime Location

This attractive four-bedroom home is the perfect place to ensure your children are smack bang in the catchment area. One of its key selling points is a large family kitchen, with plenty of communal space and huge folding doors looking out to the back garden.

Four-bedroom home, Frisby-on-the-Wreake, £425,000

Prime Location

Upstairs there are four bedrooms and a family bathroom (with spa bath). The master bedroom is unusually spacious with fitted wardrobes, views over the rear garden and features a large open-plan ensuite with a double ended bath, separate shower and his and hers basins. Check out the property listing on Prime Location.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Stafford

Courtesy Google Maps

St Mary's sees 40% of its pupils achieving over the expected standard of education in maths and English. It's by far the top performing primary school in Staffordshire, and as well as academic achievements it offers a full schedule of sporting, art and community activities.

Two-bedroom cottage in Brewood, Stafford, £250,000

Prime Location

This beautiful home is on School Road itself and was once the village sweet shop. This home will suit a small family but packs in all the essentials including a lounge/diner, kitchen, utility room and downstairs toilet. Upstairs it has two bedrooms and a family bathroom. Under the house is a cellar too.

Two-bedroom cottage in Brewood, Stafford, £250,000

Prime Location

This is one example where being near a good school has a big impact on property values. Costs in charming Agnes Burton are significantly higher than other parts of Stafford. However, with the average house on School Road valued at £365,749, this cottage's asking price is a bargain given the very sought-after location.

Two-bedroom cottage in Brewood, Stafford, £250,000

Prime Location

The home is packed with character and is deceptively spacious, with a large garden and open-plan design throughout. It also has beautiful views of the village and local church and gives children an easy walk to school, just a few minutes away. You can view the listing here.

Nateby Primary School, Preston

Courtesy Google Maps

Nateby Primary School, Preston has just 61 pupils, but despite its small size it's a big hitter, sharing the fourth spot on the list with two other outstanding schools. It has 40% of its pupils achieving over the expected levels of maths and English skills for their age, as well as football, netball and plenty of other extracurricular activities to broaden their horizons

Four-bedroom home in Nateby Court, Garstang, £349,950

Rightmove

Just down the road is this lovely property in Nateby Court, Garstang. The modern four-bedroom detached house, listed on Rightmove, is in a pretty cul-de-sac near the town centre, with country views over Lancaster canal.

Four-bedroom home, Nateby Court, Garstang, £349,950

Rightmove

With a few updates to the decor, this house is perfect for a young family. And if you're looking to expand your brood, there's also the possibility of creating a fifth bedroom or nursery, as well as the existing four good-sized bedrooms, two with ensuite.

Four-bedroom home, Nateby Court, Garstang, £349,950

Rightmove

The kitchen has been updated with modern features, granite work surfaces and a breakfast bar for stress-free mornings. There's also access to the back garden and large windows to let in the light (and keep an eye on the kids).

Evelyn Street Community Primary School, Warrington

Courtesy Google Maps

Evelyn Street Community Primary School is a top achiever and joint second in the country with 55% of children achieving better than expected results in maths and English. The school recently achieved an outstanding Ofsted rating too.

Semi-detached house, Warrington, £150,000

Prime Location

This three bedroom semi-detached property would make an ideal first family home. It's close to the acclaimed Evelyn Street primary, has a modern design and plenty of outdoor space.

Semi-detached house, Warrington, £150,000

Prime Location

On the market for around the average price for the area, the rooms in the property are spacious and light, the kitchen is modern and well equipped, and there are three good-sized bedrooms, perfect for a small family.

Semi-detached house, Warrington, £150,000

Prime Location

The garden is also a real boon, with a separate area for children to play and an attractively-designed patio for the adults. There's also outdoor storage in a shed and a separate utility room to make life easier for busy parents. For other properties in Great Sankey click here.

St Alban’s C of E Primary School, Wickersley, Rotherham

Courtesy Google Maps

With the promise that 'no child will underachieve', St Alban's primary school in Rotherham is one of the top in the country with 40% of children achieving more than expected in maths and English. Parents say it has a warm, friendly air, and there are good links with the local community.

Detached bungalow, Goose Lane, Wickersley, £465,000

Prime Location

This detached bungalow is a lovely example of what you can get in the catchment area for this school. It offers a huge amount of space, with four bedrooms, a bath with hot tub, a separate garage and plenty of land.

Detached bungalow, Goose Lane, Wickersley, £465,000

Prime Location

Inside there's scope to modernise the decor, but the layout is perfect for a family thanks to the spacious rooms and ample storage space. While smaller properties are available for less – the average detached house in the area goes for £227,304 – this home will grow with the family. It's on sale via Prime Location.

Morley Primary School, Derbyshire

Google Maps

Morley Primary School's motto is 'everything can be achieved' and it seems to be the case! This small school in south Derbyshire has been named one of the top establishments in the country with 100% of pupils achieving expected literacy and maths skills and 55% exceeding expectations.

Four-bedroom cottage, Morley, Derbyshire, £650,000

Prime Location

Not only does this area have great schools, there are fabulous properties too and you'll get plenty of space for your money. This property in Cloves Hill is a three-minute drive or half-hour stroll to Morley Primary and has huge grounds for children to play, and plenty of quirky features for adults to appreciate too.

Four-bedroom cottage, Morley, Derbyshire, £650,000

Prime Location

To the north of Derby, this cottage is close to the city centre for amenities but set in an attractive part of the countryside. It was originally built in 1796 but was significantly extended in 1993 and has undergone a further programme of modernisation and improvement.

Four-bedroom cottage, Morley, Derbyshire, £650,000

Prime Location

The property has four bedrooms and the impressive garden makes it perfect for a family with primary-aged children. Morley Primary is a small, friendly one-form entry school that has strong links to the local church community, ensuring a warm welcome for both kids and adults who are new to the area. See the full listing on Prime Location.

Meysey Hampton Primary School, Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Courtesy Google Maps

Finally, here's the country's best primary school: Meysey Hampton Church of England Primary School, in the heart of the idyllic country village on the edge of the Cotswolds. It consistently achieves incredible results and came top of the 2017 high achieving schools list. A huge 81% of its pupils achieve above average scores in maths and English and its pupil-to-teacher ratio is better than the national average.

Old Smiths Barn, Meysey Hampton, £629,000

Prime Location

The school has achieved an outstanding Ofsted rating thanks to its well-rounded curriculum and good links to the local community. But, as with all high-achieving state primary schools, it can be tricky to get in and perfect properties like this one are hard to come by.

Old Smiths Barn, Meysey Hampton, £629,000

Prime Location

Thankfully though, it's not impossible. Listed on Prime Location, this beautiful property on the high street of the village is the perfect example of what this area has to offer. Old Smiths Barn dates back to the early 19th century and has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a modern kitchen. Perfect for a growing family.

Old Smiths Barn, Meysey Hampton, £629,000

Prime Location

The conversion has been tastefully modernised, while still retaining its most charming features such as an old stone fireplace and original beams. The kitchen has a magnificent Aga, and the living room a wood burner for chilly country evenings. READ MORE: School's out and homeowners are in at these amazing conversions