More Wirral pupils get first choice high school as surplus places rise

Mar 18 2011 By Ben Turner

MORE Wirral pupils are getting a place at their preferred high school because the number of empty desks has increased, it was claimed.

New government figures show that the percentage of Wirral parents securing their first choice school for September has increased slightly from 98.4% to 99.4%.

Wirral council operates an equal preference system, meaning places are allocated based on how closely pupils meet the criteria rather than taking into account the order in which they put their choice of up to five schools.

Education officials said the reason more parents were getting their children into a desired school was because of falling rolls and empty desks.

Figures released in December revealed there was a 13.5% surplus of places across Wirral primaries and 16.7% at secondary level.

Schools bear the brunt of empty desks as they get funding per pupil on roll.

Brian Jordan, headteacher at Bebington High School, admitted it was a bitter sweet situation.

"What I would put the figures down to is falling rolls.

"Most schools have places so parents will get their preferences.

"There is an equal preference system in Wirral so parents putting a school down as their first choice will not necessarily get it.

"But it is good that the majority of parents are getting one of their desired schools."

"A problem with falling rolls is schools have fixed costs, things like heating, lighting and rates stay the same and that gives us added pressure.

"Until 2016 when birth rates start to rise I cannot see a quick solution and the council has a real dilemma whether to close more schools or wait for the birth rates to rise."

Cllr Sheila Clarke, cabinet member for Wirral children’s services, said: "This has been a successful year with 99% of parents being allocated a school which they indicated on their preference form.

"In cases where parents indicated a first preference for one of the grammar schools and their child did not reach the required standard, 90% were allocated their first or highest preference."