How far would you go for a top school place? Santander reveals the sacrifices parents make

01 September 2025

Stress, secret keeping and feelings of financial inadequacy – the toll taken to secure a spot in a top school catchment.
New research from Santander UK shows over a third (35%) would keep their chosen school a secret from friends to increase their chances of getting in.
Nearly a quarter (24%) would sacrifice being close to their friends or workplace if moving away meant securing a place at their preferred school.
One in seven (14%) would go to more extreme lengths, renting a second property within the catchment area, or moving their child to stay with friends or relatives.

As school applications open this week for the next academic year, new research from Santander UK reveals how parents are feeling the pressure when it comes to getting their children into a preferred school’s catchment area – and in some cases, the extreme lengths they will go to.

The research(1) has uncovered the competition school catchment areas brings out amongst friends, with over a third (35%) of parents admitting they would keep their chosen school a secret to increase their chances of getting in. Over one in 10 (13%) say they have even lost friends over the competition for good school places.

Beyond sacrificing friendships, many parents are also willing to say goodbye to an easy commute and move away from loved ones to get their child into their preferred school. Nearly a quarter (24%) would give up living near friends or their workplace and one in five (20%) would move away from their family.

The emotional turmoil doesn’t stop there, with one in six (15%) reporting having had sleepless nights or arguing with their partner or family (14%) over a school application. Meanwhile, a third (33%) say the stress of not being within the desired catchment led them to consider home schooling.  

More tangible financial implications are also prevalent with Santander previously reporting that a home within a good school catchment area could command a 15% premium(2). This financial pressure is heightened with April’s increase in stamp duty making it unaffordable for two in five (40%) parents to relocate into their desired school catchment area, meaning its unsurprising that nearly a quarter (24%) of parents surveyed reported that the school catchment dilemma has made them feel like they need to earn more money.  

David Morris, Head of Homes at Santander, said

“For many parents, securing a place at their preferred school isn’t just about education, but about shaping their child’s future. Our research shows the great lengths parents are willing to go to and the sacrifices they are willing to make, which can take a real emotional toll on parents’ wellbeing. From sacrificing friendships to uprooting their lives, the impact that this competitive process has on families is acute. While some parents will simply not be able to make the leap and secure a place within their preferred school’s catchment area, for others – they will clearly be helped by the record number of properties coming to the market alongside the improved affordability that we’ve seen this year.”

Over a third (35%) of parents say they would never have bought their current property if they knew the importance of good school catchment at the time of buying. For those who have found themselves desperate to get into a top primary or secondary school, some have already gone to extreme lengths:

14% have rented a second property within the catchment area;
18% have registered their child at another property within the catchment area; and
17% have bought a second home in the catchment area.

With these approaches being simply unaffordable for most parents, there are calls for intervention and change. Two thirds (64%) say that they believe the school catchment and application process needs reviewing to ensure fairness and three quarters (76%) say it’s vital that the Government builds good, well-staffed schools near New Town developments.