One in four parents would pay up to £50,000 extra to live close to a good state school

The study reveals the lengths many parents will go to so that they can effectively 'buy' their children places in the best state schools.

Competition for places at top schools is increasing as rising fees put private education beyond the means of many middle-class families.

Buying places? One in four parents would pay up to £50,000 extra to buy a house near a good state school (file picture)

A third of parents say the quality of local schools would play a big part in deciding whether to buy a house, according to a survey by YouGov for investment fund manager Fidelity International.

One in five bases the decision to buy entirely on the schools in the area.

Twenty-three per cent (which equates to about four million) say they would pay up to £50,000 extra to live near better schools.

One in five say they would be prepared to commute further to work and 12 per cent would move away from friends and family to be closer to a better school.

The survey of more than 2,000 adults comes as separate figures show private school fees rising faster than inflation, jumping 6.2 per cent over the last year to an average of £11,000 a year.

Rob Fisher, of Fidelity International, said: 'While house prices in many parts are falling, a number of parents still find themselves in a situation where they have to spend more on their homes to guarantee getting their child into a good state school.'