Wokingham Borough primary schools face exceptional demand
Wokingham Borough Council has been able to allocate reception year school places to all its pupils. Of the 1769 total number of Wokingham Borough applications received by the deadline, 96 per cent of applicants have received the offer of a place at one of their preferred schools.
However, this is an exceptionally large year group, with 227 more places offered than last year. This means that 67 applicants have been offered a place at their nearest available school, although it was not one of their named preferences.
The council is concerned that some children have been offered places at schools some distance from their home and is actively seeking ways of reducing this number by investigating whether additional capacity could be created in some schools.
The numbers could also be alleviated by the fact that each year there is considerable change between the initial and final allocation of places as some families accept places in other boroughs. Parents have until April 21 to confirm their acceptance of the offered place.
Wokingham Families that have not been offered a place at one of their preferred schools are able to join the waiting lists for those schools, and also have the right of appeal to an independent panel.
Chief executive Susan Law said: “The vast majority of children have been allocated their preference but we acknowledge the difficulties for families of those who need to be diverted or have children at a different school from their siblings. We understand how difficult this could be for some families and are working hard doing all we can to secure appropriate places for these children, including double-checking school capacity.”
Every parent has the right to appeal if they are refused a place at any of their preferred schools. Appeals are heard by independent panels made up of lay people and decisions are legally binding on both the school and the LEA. Members are appointed to these panels by the borough council, and are independent from the council and schools in questions.
However, this is an exceptionally large year group, with 227 more places offered than last year. This means that 67 applicants have been offered a place at their nearest available school, although it was not one of their named preferences.
The council is concerned that some children have been offered places at schools some distance from their home and is actively seeking ways of reducing this number by investigating whether additional capacity could be created in some schools.
The numbers could also be alleviated by the fact that each year there is considerable change between the initial and final allocation of places as some families accept places in other boroughs. Parents have until April 21 to confirm their acceptance of the offered place.
Wokingham Families that have not been offered a place at one of their preferred schools are able to join the waiting lists for those schools, and also have the right of appeal to an independent panel.
Chief executive Susan Law said: “The vast majority of children have been allocated their preference but we acknowledge the difficulties for families of those who need to be diverted or have children at a different school from their siblings. We understand how difficult this could be for some families and are working hard doing all we can to secure appropriate places for these children, including double-checking school capacity.”
Every parent has the right to appeal if they are refused a place at any of their preferred schools. Appeals are heard by independent panels made up of lay people and decisions are legally binding on both the school and the LEA. Members are appointed to these panels by the borough council, and are independent from the council and schools in questions.
Wokingham Borough Council
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