Nearly 9 in 10 offered first choice primary

ALMOST nine in 10 Reading parents were offered their first preference of primary school for their child this year.

School places were offered on Tuesday, April 19, to children due to begin school this September.

Brighter Futures for Children, which delivers education services in Reading, has released its figures for which preferences it was able to offer.

Eighty-nine per cent of parents have been offered their first place choice.

Though this is around 1% down from 2021, pupil numbers have increased by more than 2%.

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.”

BBfC’s figures show that 6.5% of children were given their second preference, meaning only one in 20 was given a third preference or lower.

Only one in 50 pupils were offered a divert option, or a school that was not on their list.

Across England, 92% were given their first preference, with Reading trailing by just over 2%.

A significant drop in pupil numbers overall meant that local authorities were able to make a higher proportion of first-preference offers in England.

However the number of pupils applying in Reading increased from 1800 in 2021 to 1844.

Ms Glassbrook said: “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.”

There were also 148 pupils who applied for transfer from infant to junior school before the deadline this year.

Reading only has two schools where this is necessary, but all 148 were given their first preference.