Wokingham

The way in which parents apply for Wokingham infant and primary school places is set to change and this week over 2,500 information packs will be sent to parents of children born between September 1, 2001 and August 31, 2002.

From September 2006, Wokingham District Council, together with the governing bodies of the ten aided or foundation schools, will be implementing a new co-ordinated primary admissions scheme. These new arrangements will apply not just to those children starting school at the age of five, but will also affect those pupils who will be transferring from Wokingham infant to junior school. Parents need be aware that whilst they may well have registered an interest in attending an infant or primary school, a place will not have been reserved for their child and they must apply for a school place using an application form.

Parents of three and four-year-olds must apply to Wokingham District Council for a place if their child is due to start at school from September 2006, January 2007 or April 2007. Children will still start in either the autumn, spring or summer term, depending on when their birthday falls, but there is only one closing date each year for applications.

Previously, parents would register an interest in attending an infant or primary school, but now they need to apply to Wokingham District Council on an official application form. The new system sees the council moving to an equal preference scheme with parents expressing a preference for up to three infant or primary schools. However, if parents are applying to an aided or foundation school, they will need to complete the school’s own denominational / application form and return to the council.

The new co-ordinated system fits in with new government rules, meaning that everyone applying for an infant, primary or junior school place in the Wokingham district will receive a single offer on the same day (April 21, 2006).

The scheme also aims to ensure that parents are treated fairly and consistently. All preferences are treated on an equal basis taking into account the admissions criteria. Where there is the potential to offer a place at more than one Wokingham school, parents will be offered the school they have ranked highest.

Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for children’s services, said: “The process this year is significantly different to previous years and we hope that it maximises the extent to which we are able to meet parental preferences.

“It may seem a very long way off to have to get your application submitted in March when your child may not be starting for over a year, but it is vitally important that parents do not miss the deadline. The district’s primary and infant schools are very high achieving and popular and infant school class size rules limit the number of children that we can allocate to each school.”

Application forms and admission guides are being sent to all parents who have registered their details with schools or who have contacted the Wokingham council’s admissions staff. Completed application forms need to be returned by March 10, 2006. If parents have not received an application form and guide by January 9, 2006, they should contact the council’s admissions staff on (0118) 974 6131, 974 6111, or (0118) 974 6274, who can provide further advice and information. Parents can also download the documents from the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk.

Wokingham District Counci