Number of pupils offered first preference primary school dropped from last year

The figures relate to West Berkshire school allocations for September, and show that 84 per cent of parents were offered their first-choice school.
For those who were not, eight per cent were offered their second choice and three per cent their third.
This equates to 95 per cent of the number of parents getting one of their three preferences, compared to 99 per cent the year before.
In total, 127 spaces remain available in the district at 14 different schools, including Calcot Infants, where there are 17 free places, Kintbury Primary, 15, and Parsons Down Infant, 19 places.
Some 410 children remain on the waiting list for their first choice.
A total of 112 children from outside West Berkshire have been placed in schools within the district.
The school with the lengthiest waiting list in West Berkshire is The Winchcombe, Newbury, with 38 waiting, followed by St John the Evangelist, Newbury, with 35, and Birch Copse, Tilehurst, with 33.
The executive portfolio holder for education at West Berkshire Council, Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston), said that there were more applications this year than last, affecting the percentage figures.
“We have performed pretty well in this, but obviously it is disappointing not to be able to meet more of the first preferences,” she said. “The place-planning work we do, and the additional accommodation provided as a result, is focussed on us providing the right level of capacity across the district.
“I am not sure it will ever be possible to have an accuracy that will give us the ability to match 100 per cent preferences, unless we were to overprovide in some areas, and this would not be economically viable.
“Every year differs in terms of parental preferences, therefore the number of applications can fluctuate and, of course, popularity of schools shifts all the time for varying reasons.
“There were 55 more applications overall, which has affected the percentages.
“The changes to capacity in Thatcham, Newbury, and Hunger-ford, have helped manage the admission for September 2014. Newbury was particularly tight for space this year – this is as predicted.
“If you compare us with the South East, the average for first preferences was 86 per cent which matches our performance.
“Across all local authorities where results are known, the national average is just 83.5 per cent.”
n Did you miss out on your first
preference? Were you in the five per cent who didn’t get one of your three choices? Let reporter Ellis Barker know by emailing the address above or calling (01635) 886639