Primary allocations in top place

Parents and guardians who have applied for their child to have a place in a Tower Hamlets primary school heard the results of their application last week. The good news is that a huge majority of children – 94.8% – have secured a place in one of their top three choices of primary school.

Applications across London are dealt with under the Pan-London Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme. It has been in effect for primary schools since 2011 and allows parents to fill out a single application form which is shared between schools, and between different boroughs if necessary.

Across the capital, 92.6% of applicants were placed in one of their top three choices of school. Tower Hamlets performed above average – the eighth highest in London.

Part of the success of applications in Tower Hamlets is that over the past five years the council has provided the equivalent of 1,785 permanent extra primary school places (a further 1,050 places will be in place by the start of the school year in September).

Parents whose children have not yet secured a place for their child can now apply for a place at one of the schools where places are still available.

Earlier this year, 93.55% of applicants for secondary schools were placed in one of their three top choice schools in the borough.