More Notts children going to first choice of primary school

More than 1,000 Nottinghamshire children have missed out on getting into their preferred primary school – but the number who did get their first choice has increased.

Across the city and county 1,306 pupils were told they would not be going to their first preference.

In the city 516 missed out and in the county the figure was 790.

But in Nottingham 86.5 per cent of applicants – or 3,328 children – did get into their first choice of school, up two per cent on last year’s figure.

In the county 8,485 have been given their first choice – or 91.5 per cent – compared with just under 90 per cent last year.

In the city the improvement has been attributed to the City Council’s schools expansion programme, with £33.2 million creating more than 4,000 extra primary school places once all year groups are full.

It includes 292 new reception year places made available for the new academic year in September.

Audio: Marion Clay on how 100 per cent primary placement satisfaction is “unrealistic”

Councillor Sam Webster, portfolio holder for schools at Nottingham City Council, said: “Our ambition is to ensure that all pupils attend a good school, close to home and our expansion strategy means that we are creating more school places to achieve this goal.

“We understand that choosing a school for their child is one of the most important decisions that parents have to make, and we will continue to ensure that process is as simple as possible.

“Demand for places continues to increase in Nottingham but we have been working for the past seven years to provide additional places. The fact that more pupils are getting their first-choice school shows that this action was necessary and is working.”

Primary school offers for 2016/17 – Nottingham City:

Source: Nottingham City Council

Marion Clay, said the authority was pleased with its own improved numbers but warned it would be ‘almost impossible’ to send 100 per cent of children to their first choices.

She said: “A hundred per cent possibly is an unrealistic target. There has always been a school or schools in localities that are over-subscribed.

“Over-subscribed schools are not a new challenge. In Nottinghamshire however, most parents that have applied on time have been able to secure a school of their preference. Either their first preference or their second.”

She said there are no specific areas within the county that find it more difficult to offer primary school places, even where there are high numbers of young children, such as Wet Bridgford in Rushcliffe.

“There are still and there will continue to be places available in West Bridgford. They are not one of the areas that are being particularly challenged,” she added.

“A number of years ago, there was a significant expansion in Rushcliffe and expansion in school places across Nottinghamshire County Council as a whole to ensure that per cent of parents have been able to secure one of their preferred school places.”

Primary school offers for 2016/2017 -Nottinghamshire County:

Source: Nottinghamshire County Council 

Audio: Marion Clay outlines the process disgruntled parents must take