Almost 90% of Reading parents have been offered their first preference of primary school for their child this year.
Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), which delivers education services in Reading, has ensured all primary school pupils in the borough have a place for September.
Ninety-eight per cent of Reading parents have been offered one of their top three preferences and 89% were offered their first, compared to 90% last year. Only two per cent of parents were not offered one of their preferences, the same as last year.
BFfC received 1,844 applications for primary school places this year compared with 1800 in 2021. However, the number of applications received after the deadline has brought the figure close to the forecast number of 1,978. Late applications have still to be processed.
There were 148 pupils who needed an infant to junior school transfer this year. Reading has only two schools for which this transfer is necessary and 100% of on-time applicants received their first preference.
Deborah Glassbrook, Executive Director of Children’s Services at BFfC, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer so many Reading families a place for their child in one of their three preferred primary schools this year. And almost 90% have been offered their first preference.
“It is such an exciting time for families when their children start primary school and we send our very best wishes to them for their big day in September.
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our wonderful primary schools in Reading for all their amazing hard work over the last two challenging years.”
Reading primary school place offers 2022/2021
| 2022
(%) |
2021
(%) |
2022
(pupil numbers) |
2021
(pupil numbers) |
|
| 1st preference offers | 88.85 | 89.73 | 1641 | 1625 |
| 2nd preference offers | 6.5 | 5.36 | 120 | 97 |
| 3rd preference offers | 1.95 | 1.66 | 36 | 30 |
| 4th preference offers | 0.49 | 0.5 | 9 | 9 |
| Pupils offered divert | 2.11 | 2.15 | 38 | 39 |