Primaries expanded

Tuesday May 4, 2010

Extra classes are opening at St Stephen’s, Flora Gardens, Wendell Park and Pope John schools to cater for this year’s surge in applications for primary school places.

There were 1,463 applications from local parents this year compared to 1,282 last year.

While 89% of families got a places at one of their top three preferred schools, 17% received no offer at all.

The surge is being put down to a combination of the recession deterring some families from choosing private schools and the improving quality of local primary schools.

Birth rates are also rising – up by 2.4% in 2005, when this year’s five-year-olds were born, compared to 2003.

Education bosses have been quick to counter complaints that they failed to plan properly for growing demand.

“Unlike other authorities, where unlucky parents are simply allocated a place in any school with vacancies, we set aside an extra £5.9million to open more places in the schools parents want their children to go to,” says children’s services director, Andrew Christie.

“Opening four extra classes this year will create slightly more places than we are likely to need, but it will mean we can provide more real choice for parents and children.

“We will be re-running the allocations process for everyone wanting a place in these four schools, which will free up other places elsewhere too. We will be contacting all families affected over the next few days.”

Mr Christie also confirmed that future demand is being catered for. “We have another £30million earmarked for sustained growth in primary schools over the next 10 years which will support our continuing drive to make sure parents get their school of choice.”