Parents get their primary choice

Greenfield Primary School

THE vast majority of Oldham pupils will attend the primary school of their choice in September.

Parents were told this week which schools their youngsters have been allocated — with 3,045 children (92.5 per cent) getting their first choice.

This is the highest proportion in Greater Manchester according to figures compiled by the Press Association and up from 90 per cent last year when 2,907 five-year-olds got the reception place they wanted.

Another 3.5 per cent (109 pupils) will attend their preferred school, compared with 4 per cent in 2015.

The proportion getting into their third choice in Oldham was unchanged at 1 per cent, which equates to 30 children this year. Only five pupils, less than 0.5 per cent, got into their four of fifth choice.

But 101 pupils (3 per cent) did not get any of their choices, although the council stressed that school places would be found for them.

Indications suggest wide differences around the country, with nearly one in five children missing out on their preference in some areas, compared with almost all getting their number one pick in others.

More than 10,000 children will not be placed in their first three choices, and at least 33 local authorities slipped below the average of 88.9 per cent for placing youngsters in their top choice.

A continuing squeeze on places — fuelled partly by a rising birth rate in recent years, combined with the effect of immigration in some areas — means some parts of England are struggling to accommodate demand.

Unions and town hall leaders warned that government reforms to convert all primary schools to academies are set to fuel the shortage in places.

Councils will not have the power to force schools to expand in the future, even where there is demand and capacity, the Local Government Association (LGA) said.

It warned that an additional 336,000 primary school places would be needed by 2024.

Roy Perry, chairman of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: “Most academies will be keen to work with their local authorities, but in the minority of situations where this isn’t the case, appropriate powers are vital to ensure all children get a suitable place.”