Is your Gold Coast school catchment worth its price?

THE better the school results, the more expensive the houses around the school could be, say leading real estate experts as Gold Coast parents scramble for popular school catchments. WHERE DOES YOUR SCHOOL SIT?

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GREAT results at government schools could push property prices up warn industry experts.

Real estate leaders say they have noticed an academic push from buyers which could soon be comparative to the Brisbane scramble for popular school catchments.

REIQ Gold Coast Zone Chair Andrew Henderson said the trend is becoming more noticeable as the city’s population increases.

St Francis Xavier Primary School has celebrated solid NAPLAN scores. Photo of year 5 students (L-R) Adam Docherty, Sofia Stoeckl, Abigail Harrison, Charlotte Barnes, Aria Cook, Mia Nicholson, Bailey McMah, Jed Rice. Photo by Richard Gosling

“On the Gold Coast there is a recognised price premium to be paid for houses in the

TSS precinct but the evidence for price premiums around government schools is

nowhere near as clear,” he said.

“But in my view, this is changing.

“Parents want the best education for their children, but they also want to provide them with the best lifestyle possible.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Education Minister Kate Jones visiting Musgrave Hill State School, in Southport. Picture: Jerad Williams

“More and more Gold Coast parents will see the sense of spending a little more money to buy in the catchment areas of highly rated public schools rather than paying for private school

fees,” he said.

“Catchment zones are one of those things you do come across more with both tenants and owners.

“For some it really can be the make or break on a buy.”

Mr Henderson said the drive for certain schools isn’t just because of academic result, it is the overall culture and offering.

“Broadbeach State School is a great example, it has a new principal which has interested people, and Varsity College is always high on people’s mind,” he said.

Sunny aerial view of Surfers Paradise looking inland on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Research released this year shows that in capital cities such as Melbourne homes located within the catchment areas for the city’s best public schools are worth as much as 27 per cent more than those just outside the area.

However parents chasing a great school result haven’t been priced out of the market yet, according to a Gold Coast Bulletin comparative of the average housing prices and recent NAPLAN results.

Homes in the Bellevue Park catchment remain the most affordable, while still reaping the best results.

Surfers Paradise and Ingleside homes were both priced well over their higher achieving counterparts.

Josh Willatt of Ray White Robina said he has also seen parents purchase homes solely because of the school zone.

Varsity College is always popular with parents, says Mr Henderson. Picture Glenn Hampson

“A couple of years ago, I saw people purchase a home just so they can put the down as principal place of residence.

“When I am selling a house with at least four bedrooms, I will go as far of saying 80 per cent the market are young families who want to keep kids in the school.”

Ashmore mother of two Jessica Shanahan said she is aware of some parents who have also purchased a home specifically for the catchment.

“I actually put poll in my Instagram story the other day to see if people considered NAPLAN when picking a school,” she said.

“The general feedback is parents are more likely to look at the whole reputation of the school.

“For me one of the things I would want to know is the learning philosophy, anti-bullying programs, but NAPLAN will still play a part.”

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Mrs Shanahan, who is a few years off sending her children to school, said she was happy to settle in Ashmore after seeing the latest results.

“When I looked up the NAPLAN results our local school rates very highly, and high school in the catchment for has really good results.

“If I lived in an area with lower catchment scores, I would try and get them to into another school outside of the catchment, or a private school.

“Lucky on the Gold Coast it doesn’t seem to be as competitive to get in,” she said.

Greg Morgan, the head of senior secondary at Varsity Lakes said demand for the school is no where near the levels the capital cities experience.

“We are working too hard to notice those things, every school has a catchment they work to service.

“We have processes we follow.

“The big focus for us at the end of the day is teaching and the wellbeing of the students.

“Our culture is a bit of a mixture between science and art, but not matter the subject the passion for it comes through in the teaching.”