90pc of parents given first choice of primary school
New figures today reveal how many youngsters will go to their first choice of primary school – with 90 per cent of parents in one area of the region allocated their preferred school for their children.
In total, 2,904 parents in Wolverhampton made applications by the January deadline. Of those, 90 per cent were allocated their first choice – up from 88 per cent last year. The figures show 97 per cent were allocated a place at one of their five preferred schools.
In Sandwell, 88 per cent of first preferences were met with 95 per cent being allocated a place at one of their top three preferences.
Councillor Phil Page, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for Schools, skills and learning, said: "We are very pleased to see an increase in the number of children being allocated a place at their preferred school."
Meanwhile, it has emerged that schools across the West Midlands are having to expand to create space for more children because of a baby boom.
Nationally, record numbers of children will be taught in classes of 31 or more from this September as primary schools struggle to cope with the biggest growth in pupil numbers for decades.
In Staffordshire, where births as a whole have increased by up to 11 per cent over the past decade, the county council has managed to provide an extra 2,000 primary school places across the county over the past three years.
The authority said this had been done through extending and expanding schools, adding more classrooms to increase capacity and rebuilding and remodelling existing schools instead of just building new ones.
Meanwhile, plans to create an 300 extra places for pupils at two schools in Wolverhampton moved a step closer last week. Under the plans, the number of pupils at Bilston Primary School will go up from 210 to 315 while Northwood Park Primary School in Bushbury will take on 195 pupils to reach a total of 630.
Eric Robinson, deputy chief executive and director of people at Staffordshire County Council, said: "The issue of increased demand became apparent to the county council four years ago. It was clear that rapid action was needed to ensure every child entitled to school place in Staffordshire could find one."
Figures revealing school places in Staffordshire, Walsall and Dudley are not yet available.
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