A total of 99 per cent of children were offered one of their top three choices for a reception school place for September in Bristol and North Somerset. In Bristol and North Somerset, only 41 children were not offered one of their preferred choices the start of the upcoming school year.
Thousands of families across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire found out today (Tuesday, April 16) which primary (or infant) school their children will be attending in five months time. In Bristol, 4,647 families applied for a reception place, which is down 300 from last year.
In total, 4,334 children were offered their first preference school, equating to 92.79 per cent. This is up from 92 per cent last year. Just 28 children did not get an offer from one of their three choices, or 0.6 per cent, a decrease from 53 last year.
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This was the third year in a row that 99 per cent of children received an offer from one of their choices. Bristol City Council confirmed that waiting lists for schools will become available from Wednesday, May 1 and a second-round allocation for reallocated places will take place in early June.
Hannah Woodhouse, executive director of children and education at Bristol City Council, said: “For this year’s intake we have been able to offer almost 93 per cent of parents and carers their first preference for a primary school reception place in Bristol, and 99 per cent one of their top three.
“We always look to place children in their local schools, in a setting where they want to be, and we hope all children going to their new schools in September enjoy their first steps into education. If any parents and carers have concerns about the offer they have received, I would ask them to get in touch with our school admissions team, who will be able to help them with their options.”
This comes as a record number of children were offered their first choice for secondary schools in March. 78.34 per cent of children got a place at the first choice secondary school, the highest percentage since data was collected in 2018.
North Somerset: More than 99 per cent receive preferred offer
In North Somerset, over 97 per cent of children received their first choice application. North Somerset Council said that they had 2,023 primary school applications for September 2024, and 1,970 of those applications were given an offer from the first choice option.
Forty children, or 1.98 per cent, received an offer from their second preference school, but no one got an offer from their third preference. Thirteen children were not offered a place at any of their preferences, which North Somerset Council said is “more likely when parents and carers choose not to submit three preferences, including their local school”.
Overall, 99.36 per cent of children received an offer from one of their selected schools and everyone who applied for their local school were offered a place at the school. Parents who applied using hardcopy forms will receive their offer in the coming days.
Councillor Catherine Gibbons, North Somerset Council’s deputy leader and executive member for children’s services, families and lifelong learning, said: “It’s fantastic that more than 99 per cent of our young people in North Somerset will have the opportunity to study at one of their top-three primary schools. Starting school is an exciting milestone, and I wish all our young learners the best of luck.
“This result wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of our council officers and schools, who process thousands of applications. I’d like to thank them again for their dedication.”
South Gloucestershire Council said that 3,032 children were given offers, which included those in other local authorities. A total of 94.2 per cent of children, 2,835, in South Gloucestershire received their first preference.
There were 128 children (4.2 per cent) who received their second choice, whilst 18 children (0.6 per cent) received their third choice offer. One per cent of children within South Gloucestershire had referrals, and South Gloucestershire Council confirmed that 17 children "either applied and delayed entry to the year after" or moved away in the time between applying and offers being made.
One hundred children from South Gloucestershire were offered places within other local authorities and 123 children from outside South Gloucestershire were offered a school within the region.
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