Parents of reception age children across Cornwall found out today which school their child has been allocated for September, with the majority being offered their first preference.

Cornwall Council received 5,486 applications for reception places for pupils to start school in September 2018. 

Of those, 5,221 (95.2%) have been offered a place at their first preference school, an increase on last year’s figure of 93.4%.

Nearly 99% of applicants have been offered a place at a school they named as one of three preferences on their application form.

‘We’re pleased so many children and families have the news they wanted,’ said Liskeard councillor Sally Hawken, the Council’s cabinet member for children and well-being.

But some areas in Cornwall had particular pressure on reception places this year include Newquay and Bude. 

Cornwall has 226 schools with reception classes and this year 72 of those are full after the first round of allocations compared to 92 at this time last year.

‘Cornwall Council will continue to plan for the demand on places to ensure as many children as possible can go to their preferred school now and in the future,’ said Sharon Hindley, head of education access and sufficiency.

The number of oversubscribed schools is expected to increase as late applications for places are processed over the next few weeks. More than 130 late applications have been received so far this year.

The council is nearing the end of a major £40 million investment programme that will see more than 2,800 more pupil places provided by September by expanding existing primary schools.

Additional pupil places have been created by completing expansions at 24 primary schools including Charlestown, Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy and Tregadillett Primary School.