Two kids apply for each place at popular schools
THE two most popular primary schools in the borough received at least two applications for every available place this year.
Department for Education figures show some schools in Rochdale were so oversubscribed that they had double the amount of children wanting to attend than places available for them.
The figures showed that Caldershaw School on Edenfield Road and All Souls’ CE Primary on Rye Street in Heywood, were the most popular primary schools in the borough.
Only 56 per cent of pupils whose parents put either school as their first choice received a place
All Souls’ School had 4.3 applications for every place – eventually granting 29 pupils a spot from 52 first choice applications.
Mrs Gaynor Rennie, headteacher at All Souls’ Primary, said she felt the popularity of the school was down to it’s ‘excellent’ reputation as she praised her staff and pupils for their contribution.
She said: “The excellent reputation of All Souls’ CE Primary School is due to a combination of hard work and commitment of both pupils and staff.
“We are delighted that this has been recognised by parents in their primary school first choice option.”
Meanwhile, at Caldershaw School, 55 first choice applications were submitted for the 31 places on offer – with 5.4 applications in total received for every place.
The most popular high school in Rochdale was Hollingworth Academy.
The school, on Cornfield Street in Milnrow, received 371 first choice applications for just 268 places – or 2.6 applications for every place.
Elsewhere, St Gilbert’s RC Primary School, in Salford, was the hardest primary school to secure a place at across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs – with just 45 per cent of those who put the school as their first choice getting a place.
The data from the Department for Education is based on figures from National Offers Day, so data held directly by individual schools may differ, for example, because late applications were included.
The application deadline for applying for a reception place is January 15, 2019, while it is October 31, for secondary school applications.