PROPERTIES close to good schools and universities outperform the national UK average.

New research published today by leading estate agents Hamptons International shows how properties located close to independent schools and university towns hold their value and are able to recover faster from a housing market downturn than average UK properties.

The research is to be presented by Fionnuala Earley, Hamptons International’s Director of Research in London at a series of conferences during May.

In summary, the findings show: • The South and South West of England attract the greatest number of overseas students.

Two thirds of universities with more than 10% overseas students are located in the South and South West of the country.

• In England and Wales average property prices of homes within a two mile radius of an independent school have outperformed the national average. In 2014, the average property price stood at £173,500 while the average price paid for a property within a two mile radius of an independent school was £354,000.

• Properties close to an independent school have recovered faster and more strongly from the UK market downturn than the national average. House prices close to independent schools currently stand at 116% of their 2007 market peak, this compares to 98% for England and Wales as a whole.

• The same pattern can be seen in the capital’s housing market.

In London, property prices are on average 30% higher than at the peak of the market in 2007, but for those homes close to an independent school they are 66% higher.

• Homes near to some of London’s best known schools have significantly outperformed the London average. Properties close to Westminster School are now 100% higher than the 2007 peak and at St Pauls School are 75% above peak levels.

• The same trend is replicated in the country – defined as South East and South West of England.

Here average house prices have returned to 2007 levels, but for those homes close to independent schools, values are on average 17% higher.

• Over 35,000 children from overseas receive a UK education at an independent school. More than 24,000 of them have parents living abroad (up 15% from 2007).

• Over 2013-14 some 258,000 overseas students enrolled on UK university courses, up 4% on the previous year and there are more than 450,00 undergraduate and post graduate students from overseas.

• The number of overseas students awarded postgraduate qualifications has risen by 43% (233,245 students) in 2013-14 up from 163,675 a decade earlier.

• Universities contribute to local economies and act as a support to house prices.