House prices in the catchment areas of successful schools are rising up to four times faster than those in the surrounding areas, research published this week shows. Average property values in the catchment areas of the 10 most improved secondaries in England have increased by 76 per cent since 2001 to Pounds 160,000, an average increase of pound;65,000. This compared to a pound;38,000 (or 39 per cent) rise elsewhere, Hometrack, an independent property research company, found.