Under 11s school places for 2013

Source - news release from Herts County Council, 17 Apr 13

Hertfordshire County Council has today allocated more than 17,000 places at primary, junior and middle schools. More than 95 per cent of pupils have been allocated a place at one of their preferred schools – an increase of four per cent since last year. 

Most parents and carers in Hertfordshire will be able to access their allocation information this evening (17 April). More than 98 per cent of parents applied online and allocation emails will be sent, after 6pm, to all parents who made an online application and confirmed their email address. The online allocation system will be available for other online applicants after all emails have been sent. Allocation letters will only be sent to parents who applied on paper or online applicants who did not confirm their email address. 

The number of children applying for a place in a Hertfordshire reception class remains high with 14,859 applications received. Although the group is slightly smaller than last year (99 fewer applications), the number of children allocated a ranked school has increased significantly. 95.15 per cent of reception applicants were allocated a place at one of their four ranked schools and 82.75 per cent were allocated their first ranked school, compared to 91.81 per cent and 80.92 per cent in 2012 

Over the last few years the number of applications for reception places has been steadily increasing and additional capacity has been created in schools in many towns across Hertfordshire, as published in the “Applying for a School Place” booklet. However, more places are needed to ensure that the supply of school places matches local demand as closely as possible. Some potential expansions were therefore identified but were not finalised until primary applications for 2013 had been received and analysed. On the basis of this work the following schools will also be admitting additional pupils in September 2013: 

Cheshunt - Bonneygrove Primary

Harpenden - High Beeches Primary

Hemel Hempstead - Brockswood Primary, South Hill Primary

Hoddesdon - St Catherine’s CE (VC) Primary

Watford - Bournehall Primary, Nascot Wood Infants, St Catherine of Sienna RC Primary

Justin Donovan, Director of Education and Early Intervention, said: “We have been working closely with schools over the last three years to create additional reception places. Although across the county as a whole there are enough reception places for all children, in some areas demand has exceeded both pupil forecasts and the existing supply of school places. All children in Hertfordshire have been allocated a school place but additional capacity will be added in areas of peak demand and more places made available at the first run of continuing interest in the week commencing 13 May 2013. 

“Additional places will be added at the continuing interest stage to ensure all families have equal access to them. I recognise that it is vitally important that all families are treated fairly within a clear and transparent process.” 

All Hertfordshire applicants for reception places will be sent an email or letter on allocation day outlining the process for applying for the additional places available in the first continuing interest run. All applicants who have not been offered their first preference school will automatically be placed on the continuing interest list for any schools named higher on their application form than the school offered. Parents can also consider making a new application to any of the schools offering additional places. Full information on how to make a continuing interest application, and the timescales involved, is available at www.hertsdirect.org/primaryoptions. This information is also included in the ‘Under 11s - What Can You Do Now?’ leaflet, provided to parents who applied on paper. 

All parents and carers offered a school place must respond by 2 May 2013. Parents who applied online must also accept the school place offered online. Families are advised to visit the school they have been offered before deciding whether to accept or decline the place. If a response is not received the offered place may be withdrawn. 

The deadline to submit an appeal is 4pm on 17 May 2013. All information concerning post allocation processes is available online at www.hertsdirect.org/primaryoptions or in the ‘What Can You Do Now?’ leaflet.