- Three quarters (73%)¹ of parents say they’d be willing to pay extra to live within the desired catchment area of a top school, up from 63% last summer²
- On average, parents would move over 30 miles to be closer to the best primary and secondary schools in the UK
- Competition looks set to increase as a fifth (21%) of private school parents plan to move their child to a state school due to higher fees
- Pressure over competition for school places see parents losing sleep – and even friends – with a third considering homeschooling because of it
Parents are increasingly compromising financially and feeling the emotional strain of getting their kids into a top school catchment area, with new research from Santander UK uncovering the lengths they are willing to go to.
The data, released by the mortgage lender today, found that three-quarters of UK parents (73%) would be prepared to pay extra to be in the catchment area of a good school – up 11% on last year. The average price premium parents would be willing to pay is 15%, which means stumping up a further £57,000 on a £380,000 property3. One in 10 would go as far as paying over 25% extra.
Parents would also be willing to uproot and move an average of 31 miles to bag a place in a top-tier school, which is nine miles further than a year ago.
However, many parents may find that their appetite for stumping up more money isn’t enough, as Santander analysed the top 50 primary and top 50 secondary schools in the UK and found the average price of a home to be £538,490 - 42% higher than the average price of homes currently coming to the market in the UK (£379,517)3.
David Morris, Head of Homes at Santander, said: “Competition amongst parents to get their child into their top choice primary or secondary school is fierce and it’s clear that this is taking a significant toll on families. Parents are understandably digging deep into their financial and emotional reserves to give their children a great education. There is good news for parents however, as a record number of properties coming to the market, combined with stabilising interest rates and improved affordability, will hopefully help some of them bag an outstanding home in their dream catchment area.”
Increased pressure leading to emotional and financial strain for parents
Nearly a quarter (24%) say it has made them feel like they need to earn more money.
Alongside financial implications, parents are experiencing more than just money worries. Three in 10 (29%) have lost friends in the fierce competition for a place in a top school and one in six (15%) have had sleepless nights or argued with their partner or family (14%). A third (33%) say the stress of not getting the desired catchment led to them considering home schooling.
Private school fee increases adding to competition
Santander research also found that the competition for state school places has worsened since the Government introduced VAT to private school fees.
Over a fifth (21%) of parents whose children are currently at private school say they have plans to move them to a state school due to higher fees. Of this group, over two thirds (69%) say they will relocate to get their children into the best state school catchments.
As a result, parents who had their eyes set on a state school are reporting added concerns for the future, with almost half (46%) saying they are worried about competing with those who will no longer be taking up a private school space.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors:
1. Research conducted by Opinium Research amongst 2,000 UK parents with children 0-18 between 25th July and 1st August.
2. Compared to research last year by Santander: Santander in 2025
3. Rightmove house prices as of July 2025 – the average price of property coming to the market in the UK.
4. For more information on Santander’s mortgages and other products, including information on supporting home movers, please visit: Mortgages | Compare Deals & Apply Online | Santander UK
Contact Information
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. The bank serves its customers via a nationwide branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the FCA and the PRA in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Digital Consumer Bank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments (PagoNxt and Cards). This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first quarter of 2025, Banco Santander had €1.4 trillion in total funds, 175 million customers, 7,900 branches and 207,000 employees.