Parents see increase in first choice primary school places

Thousands of parents and children in Plymouth have been discovering today whether they have been successful in receiving their first choice of infant and primary schools.

Plymouth City Council confirmed that 89.77 per cent of Plymouth children received their first choice of school this year, an increase of 1.64 per cent on last year’s figures.

4.96 per cent received their second choice and 1.45 per cent their third choice. 3.82 per cent did not receive any of the schools they listed as a preference and so were allocated a place at the nearest school with a vacancy.

This increase in successful matching comes despite rising demands for primary school places as a result of increased birth rates and continued growth in the area. The Council’s Basic Need programme has been addressing this growing demand by working with schools to expand admission numbers in certain areas of the city with the most need for places.

Letters confirming school places for September 2013 were posted today, 19 April. Those parents who filled out an on-line application form were emailed with their results – although only the letters give the full details.

3,038 applications were submitted for primary school places this year. That compares with 3,056 last year, when the Council was able to match 88 per cent of families with their first choice of primary school.

Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We’re pleased that the vast majority of families got their first choice of primary school. We’re determined as a Council to ensure parents and children have choice over their education. We continue to make investment in our schools through expanding existing schools, encouraging the development of new schools where appropriate and helping to construct new school buildings.”

Between 2 September 2013 and 15 January 2014, parents with children due to begin school in September 2014 will need apply for a school place and to list their primary preferences. Each school now has its own admission criteria and it is really important that parents apply on time to maximise the chance of their child being allocated a place at their preferred school.

Any parent who is unhappy about the school place their child has been allocated can call the Council’s School Admissions Team on 01752 307166.

Parents are reminded that for any school they ranked higher than the one allocated, their child will automatically be placed on a waiting list for that school and will be considered if a vacancy comes up between now and the start of the school year.

Full details of admissions guidance and appeals information can be found by visiting the Council’s website at www.plymouth.gov.uk/schooladmissions.