A total of 87 percent of pupils have been allocated their first choice of primary school in Liverpool this year.
It is a fall of three percent compared to last year, and follows a rise in the number of applications – up from 5,441 from 5,253 – because of a rising birth rate and a growth in the city’s population. Overall, 95 percent of pupils got one of their first three choices, down from 97 percent in 2018, and all children have been allocated a place.
To tackle increased demand, the council has recently increased places at a number of popular schools including Monksdown Primary in Norris Green, Sudley Infant School in Mossley Hill and Liverpool College.
Previously there had been expansions in other parts of the city, with additional classes created at Dovedale Community Primary, Christ the King Catholic Primary, St Anne’s Catholic Primary, Smithdown Community Primary, St Silas Church of England Primary and St Cleopas Church of England Primary.
Steve Reddy, Director of Children’s Services and Education, said: “Applying for a place can be a stressful experienced for parents as they are rightly anxious that their child gets into their preferred choice of school.
“As the city’s population continues to grow and pressure on places in some areas grows we are doing what we can to increase places. We have taken action in the areas where we know there is the greatest demand to alleviate some of the pressure, but we can’t do this for every school due to strict criteria for funding, including being ranked as good or outstanding by Ofsted, and on a solid financial footing.
“We are absolutely committed to raising standards in education so that parents have a choice of good primary schools to choose from in their locality.”
