A councillor and school governor in Sheffield has spoken out on Primary school offer day over the need for more primary school places across the city, after it was revealed that some parents have missed out on their first choice school.
April 16 marks the announcement of primary schools across the country offering places to all children eligible to start school this September.
This year Sheffield City Council reported a reduction in pupils receiving their first preference primary school.
Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards who represents the Manor Castle ward in Sheffield, said: “I do think that it’s always a concern when people can’t get their first school places.
“We really need to make sure there are enough school places”
Cllr Richards is also a governor for Wybourn Primary School which has 133 more pupils than is planned for as of February 2024, the most of any school in the area.
This year four Wybourn Primary school applicants with siblings already at the school were denied a place due to oversubscription.
Cllr Richards said: “I’m not surprised it’s heavily oversubscribed, it’s an amazing school.”
Despite its oversubscription, it was not the most in demand primary school.
Netherthorpe Primary School reported 26 pupils were refused entry, 6 of whom also had siblings within the school.
Both schools were awarded a GOOD Ofsted rating.
The high demand for primary school places in Sheffield has not gone unrecognised.
In 2022, six primary schools were selected to be part of the Department for Education’s £1 billion rebuilding programme.
Parents of pupils not eligible for a place to any of their preferred schools will have the opportunity to appeal between June and July.
The Local Authority holds waiting lists for pupils who didn’t get a place at a school that they ranked higher than that which was allocated.
Parents should be aware there is no guarantee of obtaining a school place from the waiting list but to bear in mind that there is always movement between March and September.
The waiting list will come into operation from today (Tuesday 16th April) and will be maintained until July 2025.
