A Brentwood head teacher has said statistics suggesting that people pay more to live close to her top performing school were misleading.
Research published by Barclays Private Clients Premier Banking argued that housebuyers were prepared to pay a "housing premium" to get their child into a top state school.
The report based on the 50 top ranking primary schools in the country, which includes West Horndon Primary School, said in many cases houses were significantly higher compared to neighbouring areas.
For West Horndon, Barclays' figures claimed, the average house price in the school's catchment area is £257,853 while the average house price in Brentwood is £222,437 a difference of 15.92 per cent.
The biggest hike in house prices was in Chesterfield, Derbyshire which is 264.73 per cent above the area average - West Horndon ranked 29th overall
But head teacher of West Horndon Primary School, Viv Wakeham said the figures should be taken with a pinch of salt - especially as league tables for primary schools change almost every year.
She said: "It is a huge leap to say that people who live in the village, live here just to send their children to this school.
"I think the vast majority of people who are residents of West Horndon as for many other reasons, like the good transport access or simply because it is a nice place to live."
Mrs Wakeham said all schools worked very hard for their students no matter where they were based
Published Thursday, June 12, 2003
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