Parents reassured that school places will be found

Anxiously waiting parents are being reassured by Bristol City Council that every child will find a school reception place for September 2010.

Strategic Director for Children, Young People and Skills, Annie Hudson, said: “The school admissions system is often the very first experience a family will have of their child’s education. This makes it even more important that it is both straightforward and positive.

“Earlier this year, a number of parents were understandably very concerned about the way applications for primary school places this September were dealt with. We therefore decided to commission a full independent review of school admissions in Bristol. The recommendations made by Cambridge Education on ways to improve the service are helpful and work is already moving forward in a number of areas to improve the way we plan school places and handle admissions.

“Forward planning is a continuous process to provide the right number of places in the right parts of the city. This report is helping us improve the service for future generations.”

Parents who submitted their school application on time can expect to receive an offer for a primary school place in late January.

School buildings in many parts of the city are being developed to ensure that all children can be catered for.

Despite this, planning permission has still not been granted to start work to complete a new school in the Bishopston area.

Last year, 93 per cent of Bristol families managed to secure their child a place in one of their three chosen schools.