Smooth Transition as Rising Fives Start School

More than 300 additional children have been successfully placed in Royal Borough primary schools for the academic year starting this September – the first year in which rising fives have been included in the  Royal borough.

They will start school this September if born between 1 September and 31 December 2005, and in January 2011 if born between 1 January and 31 August 2006.

Every Royal Borough child starting primary school in the 2010/11 academic year has been offered a place at a borough school.

Letters have gone out to parents on Friday 19 March advising them of their child’s primary school place.

Cllr Eileen Quick, lead member for children’s services, said: “I am delighted that the rising fives programme has been introduced so seamlessly and would like to thank all the council officers and headteachers for their success in effectively placing four terms’ worth of admissions in three.

“It is also excellent news that nearly all of our children have a place in a preferred school. We make every effort to ensure the best possible outcome for all our children, while allocating places according to the prescribed admission criteria.”

A total of 1,907 primary school applications were received, 1,751 from Royal Borough residents. For the 2009/10 school year 1,581 applications were received, 1,449 from Royal Borough residents.

Of the 1,751 applications received from Royal Borough residents, 1,656 (94.6%) have been offered a preferred school.