CHILDREN in Warrington have some of the best access to outstanding primary schools in the country for the coming academic year.
This is according to new research from education software specialist, The Access Group.
The “school squeeze” campaign reveals which areas in the UK have the highest and lowest volume of pupils entering primary school year per school in the area – and where parents have the best access to outstanding schools.
The figure was calculated by taking the number of children set to attend primary school in the 2023/24 academic year, and comparing it to the number of outstanding primary schools per local authority.
Warrington, with 23 outstanding primary schools, offers the third best access to outstanding primary school places with 2,163 children set to start primary school in 2023-24, which equates to 94 per outstanding school -slightly ahead of nearby Trafford which has a figure of 94.4.
Rutland provided the best access in England (61.8), with Essex (67.9) and Herefordshire (79.9) completing the top three.
Torbay is the most squeezed location with only one outstanding primary school 1,211 children set to move up to primary education.
Jane Gibson, product manager (education) at The Access Group, explained what this means for parents: “Admissions is a stressful time for parents as your child’s school can have a big impact on their future. Even on a smaller scale, if you fail to get into your first-choice school, there’s a risk of being separated from friends, or you might add on extra travel time to get your child to the school gates every morning.
“Schools also often ‘hold their breath’ at this time of year too. Pupil numbers can affect their funding, which in turn can lead to difficult decisions regarding staffing levels, budget allocation and more – but with specialist education technology such as school finance software and school payments software, it’s easier to cope with fluctuating numbers and ensure there are adequate resources to provide a great education.”
Applications for primary school admission for 2023/24 entry close on Sunday, January 15.
For the full list of where schools in the UK are the most squeezed, including Ofsted-rated Outstanding schools, visit: https://www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/education/resources/where-has-the-most-competition-for-primary-school-admissions/
