Every Reading Child Offered a Primary School Place

Every family who applied for a primary school place in Reading starting in September this year will be offered a place, despite continuing evidence of a significant increase in the population of primary school aged children in the town.

Tue April 16th is the day when offers go out to all parents who applied for a primary school place starting in September 2013. Those who applied online can find out about their offer by logging into https://admissions.reading.gov.uk with their username and password. Offer letters are being posted out today for all other applications.

Any parent who receives an offer this week and has any concerns, or wants to discuss the offer further, are being urged to phone Reading Borough Council’s dedicated Schools Admissions Team on 0118 937 3777 in the first instance. The Admissions Team will be on hand between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday to discuss in detail any alternative options which may be available.

A total 2,138 applications were received for the September 2013 intake. That figure is just six short of the total number of applications received last year, which in itself was an increase of nearly 200 applications from 2011 the figure. This year’s total suggests there has been a ‘step increase’ in the number of children of primary school age living in the town and this has been confirmed in the latest Census figures, which themselves show a 34% increase in children aged 0-4 years old – the second highest rise in the whole of the South-East since 2001 .

A report to Reading Borough Council’s Cabinet this month outlined a Proposed Primary School Expansion Plan for Reading. The report outlined the Council’s intention to submit a number of bids to the Department for Education for additional capital to help realise the proposals for a significantly increased primary school capacity in the town.