'Best CT schools by suburb' first appeared on iafrica.com on 9 December 2009. It is the 8th most read 'Property' article of the past year. 

Learn more about the growing wave of 'semigration' to Cape Town:

With the New Year now just around the corner, many families will be contemplating their options for 2010 and for some these may include the possibility of relocating to the Western Cape. With its vibrant economy and enviable coastal lifestyle, Cape Town holds much appeal for businesspeople who would like to maximise their family lifestyle without foregoing big city employment opportunities. Pam Golding Properties? MD for the Western Cape metro region, Laurie Wener, says the festive season provides the perfect time for these would-be buyers to visit Cape Town and get a feel for its different suburbs, including the location of the city?s leading schools and most comfortable family homes.

"Good schools are a crucial factor when deciding to move a family," says Wener, "and can be the very top priority for many buyers. Proximity to work opportunities, security, sporting and entertainment facilities, the beach and medical facilities may also be key considerations, but the bottom line for families with school-going children is usually one of proximity to high-quality educational institutions and availability of places.

"Fortunately in Cape Town there are numerous areas which suit these criteria. In the recent Top Schools survey conducted by the Sunday Times, the Western Cape had 24 positions in the top 100, with Cape Town alone accounting for 11 of these, including the number one school, Westerford High in Rondebosch.

"Besides these excellent government schools, this region also has a number of top-notch private schools. In short, there are a huge number of possibilities for parents to consider, across virtually every region within the city. We would urge potential relocators to cast their net wide and assess their property options in a number of different suburbs."

Southern Suburbs

Cape Town?s Southern Suburbs have long been renowned as the home of the city?s top schools and certainly they have earned this reputation with Rondebosch, Rustenburg, SACS and others being among the most highly-regarded schools in the country.

In addition to these, points out PGP?s Southern Suburbs area manager Howard Markham, there are a number of leading private schools, from Bishops and Springfield Convent to the International School, Herschel and Reddam House, as well as several smaller independent schools.

"Just about anywhere in the Southern Suburbs puts one within easy reach of a top school," says Markham, "whether you are looking for government or private options. Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont and Kenilworth are perhaps the best located for proximity to a wide number of schools, as well as for easy access to the CBD."

Markham says a modest family home in the Southern Suburbs will average about R2-million to R4-million. Prices for such houses start at about R2-million in Claremont, ranging from R2-million to R8-million in Rondebosch and Newlands and going up as high as R40-million in Constantia or Bishopscourt.

"Claremont in particular is an area to watch," he says, "as its ongoing upgrade of transport and shopping facilities has given it a much-needed facelift. It also offers some excellent value-for-money options for family buyers."

Besides excellent schooling, the Southern Suburbs offer a wide range of shopping and sporting facilities, theatres and hospitals plus close proximity to the mountain and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The beach is an easy 15 minute drive away while one can generally commute to the city in under 20 minutes. There are a few secure estates scattered around the suburbs and all have their own neighbourhood watch and/or ADT patrols.

Article continues on page two, three and four: The Northern Suburbs, City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard, Western Seaboard, South Peninsula and reasons for renting rather than buying right away...