Work to increase primary school places across Hammersmith and Fulham is being undertaken to account for population growth over the next decade. This will also ensure more choice for parents and guardians.
According to ‘Do the Maths’, a London-wide study by London Councils in 2014, for the period 2012/13 to 2017/18, the primary school population in H&F is set to increase by up to 20 per cent.
However, thanks to new and expanding schools, H&F council is making sure that there will be enough places to meet this growing need. Current plans will see more than 1,690 primary places created by 2023.
Councillor Sue Macmillan, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We are determined to help parents and guardians secure outstanding places for their children by giving them more choice.
“We are helping existing schools expand and supporting the creation of others to ensure children in our borough have the best possible start to their educations.”
H&F Council is working with community schools and free school providers to create more classrooms in the borough. They include the new Burlington Danes Primary Academy which will take its first 60 reception pupils in September this year and the expansion to St Stephen’s, both in the north of the borough.
In the South of the borough they include the expansions of Holy Cross and St John’s primary schools. The administration also saved Sulivan Primary School from closure last year.
The council is also working hard to stop parents who falsely claim to live in the area in order to get their child into a particular school. Officers cross check council tax records with the addresses of applicants of all over-subscribed schools and investigate any discrepancies.
This year 74 per cent of parents and carers were offered their first preference for their children; 90 per cent were offered one of their top three choices and all received a place. There were 1,488 applications for a primary school places this year.