Majority get primary school place of their choice

Along with the rest of the country, Lincolnshire has experienced high numbers of families wanting their children to start school in September. There are 7,790 children wanting a school place this year, the largest year group since the local authority started co-ordinating primary school intake admissions in 2007.

Some 93 per cent of these children will receive an offer of a place at their first preference school, on par with last year (93.6 per cent).

Because of appeals and movement on the reserve list, it is normal for the percentage of first preferences to increase by the time children start in September.

Although the county council has offered a school place to every child whose parents applied by the deadline, 140 children (1.8 per cent) will be offered a local school that isn’t one of their preferences.

Parents can pick up their offer using the online system: go to www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions . The vast majority apply online.

Parents have until May 15 to lodge an appeal if they are unhappy with the refusal of a school place. If they return the appeal form by the deadline, it will be heard before the end of term – if it is received late it will still be heard but this may be in September.

Debbie Barnes, director of children’s services, said: “I am delighted to see so many children getting their first school of preference and this should be even better by September. It is always our intention to support as many parents as possible with their preferences. Every year the overwhelming majority of parents are successful in gaining admission to the school of their choice.”