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- Parents offered first choice school
Parents offered first choice school
- By Chief Editor
- Published 2 Apr 2008
- Herefordshire
- Unrated
Parents of Herefordshire’s pre-school children have been learning which primary school their child will go to in September.
Nearly 94 percent of parents in Herefordshire have been offered their first preference, and a further four percent have been offered their second choice.
The number of children requiring a place in reception for September 2008 is similar to last year, but slightly fewer in number.
The deadline for primary school applications was one week after the council announced draft proposals for the review of education across the county. The council has helped parents who wanted to change their preferences as a result of the withdrawal of the proposals.
Offers of places have now been made and parents notified of schools that still have vacancies. Parents can still change their minds, provided there is a space in the school they wish to change to.
There has been some understandable concern that the draft proposals regarding the future of schools in Herefordshire may affect school applications. The variation in numbers compared to last year
is too small to draw such a conclusion but it is worth noting that from current data, 22 out of the 33 schools that would have been affected have experienced no change or an increase in applications compared to last year’s applications. The remaining 11 schools have experienced some increases in the number of vacancies but the variation is too small to draw a link with the proposals, now withdrawn. There may be other factors involved in particular school situations.
Chris Baird, head of planning, performance and development, said: “Herefordshire Council offered 90 percent of families an offer of their first choice high school earlier this month – one of the highest percentages in the West Midlands and well above the 81 percent nationally.
“We are delighted to be able to offer so many of the county’s parents their first choice primary school as well.
“All parents will have received a list of schools so they can see which are full and where there remain vacancies. We are happy to accommodate changes if we can and there is an appeals procedure for those who wish to pursue a place in a school which is already full.”
Nearly 94 percent of parents in Herefordshire have been offered their first preference, and a further four percent have been offered their second choice.
The number of children requiring a place in reception for September 2008 is similar to last year, but slightly fewer in number.
The deadline for primary school applications was one week after the council announced draft proposals for the review of education across the county. The council has helped parents who wanted to change their preferences as a result of the withdrawal of the proposals.
Offers of places have now been made and parents notified of schools that still have vacancies. Parents can still change their minds, provided there is a space in the school they wish to change to.
There has been some understandable concern that the draft proposals regarding the future of schools in Herefordshire may affect school applications. The variation in numbers compared to last year
Chris Baird, head of planning, performance and development, said: “Herefordshire Council offered 90 percent of families an offer of their first choice high school earlier this month – one of the highest percentages in the West Midlands and well above the 81 percent nationally.
“We are delighted to be able to offer so many of the county’s parents their first choice primary school as well.
“All parents will have received a list of schools so they can see which are full and where there remain vacancies. We are happy to accommodate changes if we can and there is an appeals procedure for those who wish to pursue a place in a school which is already full.”