Plymouth parents received their primary places
Thousands of parents and children in Plymouth learned day whether they have been successful in receiving their first choice of infant and primary schools.
Plymouth City Council has confirmed that 89.42 per cent of city children received their first choice of school this year, a marginal decrease of 0.35 per cent on last year's figures.
Altogether, 5.98 per cent of children received their second choice and 1.63 per cent their third choice.
However, 2.97 per cent of children 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 figure has improved by 0.85 per cent from last year, which means 84 children compared to 106.
Letters confirming school places for September 2014 were posted yesterday. Those parents who filled out an online application form were emailed with their results – although only the letters give full details.
A total of 2,992 applications were submitted for primary school places this year. That compares with 3,038 last year, when the council was able to match 89.77 per cent of families with their first choice of primary school.
The council's basic need programme continues to address the demand for primary school places by expanding admission numbers in areas of the city with the most need.
Assistant Director for Education, Learning and Families, Judith Harwood, said: "We're pleased that the vast majority of families got their first choice of primary school. As a Council we’re determined to ensure parents and children have choice over their education. One of our priorities is to ensure we have a top performing education system from early years to continuous adult learning.
"We continue to invest in our schools through expanding existing schools, encouraging the development of new schools where appropriate and helping to construct new school buildings."
Around 590 parents have yet to submit an application for a school place. However, as Plymouth admits children to school before the legal date for compulsory education provision, many of these parents may have decided not to apply yet. The Council urges any parent yet to make an application for a primary school place for September 2014 to do so quickly.
Parents with children due to begin school in September 2015 will need apply for a school place and to list their primary preferences between 3 September this year and 15 January 2015.
Each school now has its own admission criteria and the Council has reiterated the importance of parents applying on time.
Speedy applications can maximise the chances of a child being allocated a place at their preferred school, the local authority says.
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 also being 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 www.plymouth.gov.uk/schooladmissions
