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Primary schools: recent baby boom puts pressure on admissions system Primary schools: recent baby boom puts pressure on admissions system
(about 17 hours later)
Almost one in five families in London have missed out on their first choice of primary school, although efforts by local authorities to add new places appear to have seen off a wider crisis caused by the recent baby boom.Almost one in five families in London have missed out on their first choice of primary school, although efforts by local authorities to add new places appear to have seen off a wider crisis caused by the recent baby boom.
Competition for places was felt most strongly in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which was able to give only 61% of families their first choice of primary school. An unlucky 15% of applicants were denied any of the schools from their maximum of six choices in the borough.Competition for places was felt most strongly in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which was able to give only 61% of families their first choice of primary school. An unlucky 15% of applicants were denied any of the schools from their maximum of six choices in the borough.
In Reading, a city with a growing population and rapidly rising commercial property values, only about three out of four families received their first choice of school. In Reading, a town with a growing population and rapidly rising commercial property values, only about three out of four families received their first choice of school.
In London, 81% of applicants overall received their first choice, the same proportion as in 2013, despite a 3% increase in the number of applicants to 102,000 – a record number for the capital. But 5% failed to get a place at any of their named schools.In London, 81% of applicants overall received their first choice, the same proportion as in 2013, despite a 3% increase in the number of applicants to 102,000 – a record number for the capital. But 5% failed to get a place at any of their named schools.
Elizabeth Prochaska was one of the unlucky parents. Her daughter failed to get a place at any of the primary schools they applied to in Hackney, where 7% of families failed to get into a school of their choice.Elizabeth Prochaska was one of the unlucky parents. Her daughter failed to get a place at any of the primary schools they applied to in Hackney, where 7% of families failed to get into a school of their choice.
"My daughter is at the nursery of the local primary school, with all of her friends who will be going on up. So I have to explain to her that she won't be going to that school this year, unless we get off the waiting list," Prochaska said."My daughter is at the nursery of the local primary school, with all of her friends who will be going on up. So I have to explain to her that she won't be going to that school this year, unless we get off the waiting list," Prochaska said.
"It's a complete failure of planning. Hackney borough should have sorted out classes at their schools, and central government shouldn't be opening free schools in places where we don't need them. They should be opening schools in places where we do need them.""It's a complete failure of planning. Hackney borough should have sorted out classes at their schools, and central government shouldn't be opening free schools in places where we don't need them. They should be opening schools in places where we do need them."
Alex Carpenter said her daughter failed to get a place in any of the local schools she applied for in Sandwell metropolitan borough in the west Midlands, including one infant school that had three entry forms.Alex Carpenter said her daughter failed to get a place in any of the local schools she applied for in Sandwell metropolitan borough in the west Midlands, including one infant school that had three entry forms.
"We were given a random school miles from our home," Carpenter said. "It seems very unfair we are deemed too far from our four local primary schools but near enough for a school miles away.""We were given a random school miles from our home," Carpenter said. "It seems very unfair we are deemed too far from our four local primary schools but near enough for a school miles away."
There was better news for parents in Manchester, which increased the proportion of children offered their first preference. Despite 156 more applications, 87.5% of the city's 6,831 applications received their first choice, compared with 85.7% in 2013.There was better news for parents in Manchester, which increased the proportion of children offered their first preference. Despite 156 more applications, 87.5% of the city's 6,831 applications received their first choice, compared with 85.7% in 2013.
Birmingham also managed to increase the proportion of families who got their first preference, to nearly 87%. That came after 347 more applications compared with 2013, for a city-wide total of 15,358.Birmingham also managed to increase the proportion of families who got their first preference, to nearly 87%. That came after 347 more applications compared with 2013, for a city-wide total of 15,358.
Overall, there was a sense of relief among officials in London, where the complex city-wide application process is overseen by the Pan-London Admissions Board on behalf of its 32 boroughs.Overall, there was a sense of relief among officials in London, where the complex city-wide application process is overseen by the Pan-London Admissions Board on behalf of its 32 boroughs.
"The London admissions system is very proficient but not all parents can be offered their first preference. It cannot create places in schools that are already at capacity," said Helen Jenner, chair of the admissions board. She added: "London boroughs are working with local schools to ensure each child has a school place for the start of term. The increasing demand for places coupled with the popularity of London's schools means it is becoming increasingly challenging.""The London admissions system is very proficient but not all parents can be offered their first preference. It cannot create places in schools that are already at capacity," said Helen Jenner, chair of the admissions board. She added: "London boroughs are working with local schools to ensure each child has a school place for the start of term. The increasing demand for places coupled with the popularity of London's schools means it is becoming increasingly challenging."
In Brent, Leopold primary school has added an extra four reception forms by taking over an old administrative building in Neasden and converting the offices into classrooms, while Stonebridge primary school has converted a community centre into classrooms. The borough is also creating an extra 450 school places by September by converting former council buildings and placing temporary classrooms in existing schools. But despite Brent's efforts this year, the council expects that it will still need to add 5,000 more places by 2019 to meet demand.In Brent, Leopold primary school has added an extra four reception forms by taking over an old administrative building in Neasden and converting the offices into classrooms, while Stonebridge primary school has converted a community centre into classrooms. The borough is also creating an extra 450 school places by September by converting former council buildings and placing temporary classrooms in existing schools. But despite Brent's efforts this year, the council expects that it will still need to add 5,000 more places by 2019 to meet demand.
Tristram Hunt, Labour's shadow education secretary, said the government was to blame for failing to provide enough good places for every child, and was instead promoting a free schools policy that diverted new places away from areas most in need of them.Tristram Hunt, Labour's shadow education secretary, said the government was to blame for failing to provide enough good places for every child, and was instead promoting a free schools policy that diverted new places away from areas most in need of them.
"Before the 2010 general election, David Cameron promised us small schools and smaller class sizes," he said. "The reality is there are more than double the number of infants in class sizes of more than 30 and three times as many 'titan' primary schools with more than 800 children than in 2010.""Before the 2010 general election, David Cameron promised us small schools and smaller class sizes," he said. "The reality is there are more than double the number of infants in class sizes of more than 30 and three times as many 'titan' primary schools with more than 800 children than in 2010."
Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, told the union's national conference in Manchester that a breakdown in national planning was behind the shortages.Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, told the union's national conference in Manchester that a breakdown in national planning was behind the shortages.
"We know that there is a growing crisis in primary school places, and we know that the government, for all the money that they say they are throwing at it – £5.8bn – they simply do not have the mechanisms or ability to plan school provision to cope with an increase in demand where it is needed," Bousted said."We know that there is a growing crisis in primary school places, and we know that the government, for all the money that they say they are throwing at it – £5.8bn – they simply do not have the mechanisms or ability to plan school provision to cope with an increase in demand where it is needed," Bousted said.
In south Oxfordshire, Helen Falkus said she failed to get a place for her child at any of the three village primary schools she chose despite carefully researching the choices available and visiting each school twice.In south Oxfordshire, Helen Falkus said she failed to get a place for her child at any of the three village primary schools she chose despite carefully researching the choices available and visiting each school twice.
"I think there's not enough transparency. I would quite like to know how far away we were. I'd like to know the numbers this year – whether it's triplets in the village that have skewed it or something, in which case we were unlucky," she said."I think there's not enough transparency. I would quite like to know how far away we were. I'd like to know the numbers this year – whether it's triplets in the village that have skewed it or something, in which case we were unlucky," she said.
• This article was amended on 17 April 2014. An earlier version referred to Reading as a city rather than a town.