Too-popular schools turn away pupils (From Western Telegraph)

Too-popular schools turn away pupils

Demand for pupil places at three Pembrokeshire primary schools has triggered a change in their admissions procedure.

Saundersfoot CP, Templeton CP and Ysgol Glan Cleddau, Haverfordwest, are now so popular that some parents hoping to send children there have had to be turned away.

Pembrokeshire County Council is now piloting a new admissions scheme at those schools to give parents a single opportunity during the year to submit their applications. At the countys other schools, applications are considered every term.

Anne Evans, the authoritys professional officer for planning, places and admissions, said prospective parents at the pilot schools have to apply by an April 30th deadline for admission in September.

These schools do seem to be popular and for the first time we have piloted this change in our admissions procedure, she explained. Written expressions of preference are required by the end of April.

If a school is over-subscribed, children living within its catchment area can be turned away.

Once applications are made, we look to see if a school is over-subscribed, said Anne Evans. If it is not we are able to admit the children who have applied, but if there are more applicants than places, the authoritys policy on admissions criteria has to be implemented.

The area the school serves and its feeder schools are considered along with special medical and social reasons for possible admission. Another determining factor is whether children already have siblings at a school. When infant classes reach 30, schools can no longer accept further pupils into that year group.

National Assembly funding has been made available to schools with classes previously exceeding that number. This money pays for an additional teacher and can lead to the formation of two classes with a significantly smaller number of pupils.

Education law specialists Russell Jones and Walker, of Cardiff, said that many parents wrongly believe that they can send children to a school of their choice.

Contrary to popular belief this (parental choice) does not exist, a spokesman explained. There is parental preference not parental choice. The LEA must enable parents to express a preference but there is no guarantee that a child will be admitted to the school of preference.

Parents have a right to appeal to Pembrokeshire County Council if their child is not admitted to the school they have selected.