Reino Unido: Almost one in three London children will miss out on first choice school

Reino Unido/Marzo de 2017/Autor: Pippa Crerar/Fuente: Evening Standard

RESUMEN: Hasta 30.000 niños se perderán  su primera opción de escuela secundaria en Londres, asi lo han predicho expertos en educación. Eso significa que, en septiembre, un número récord de niños de 11 años, casi un tercio de los que solicitaron un lugar, comenzarán en escuelas que no son de su preferencia. La Good Schools Guide, que produjo las cifras, dijo que no había suficientes escuelas secundarias en Londres como para hacer frente al número de niños que necesitan lugares este otoño.  El año pasado, el 31% de los alumnos no obtuvieron su primera escuela de preferencia, aunque sólo el 11% se quedó sin ninguno de sus tres primeros. Este año, se cree que han habido 4.000 candidatos más para los lugares – de 87.000 el año pasado a 91.000 – empeorando la situación.

Up to 30,000 children will miss out on their first choice of secondary school in London, education experts have predicted.

It means that, in September, record numbers of 11-year-olds — almost a third of those who applied for a place — will start at schools that are not their top preference. The Good Schools Guide, which produced the figures, said there were not enough secondary schools in London to cope with the number of children needing places this autumn.

It also warned that the schools places crisis facing the capital could mean pupil choice becomes even worse in years to come. Last year, 31 per cent of pupils failed to get their first preference school, although only 11 per cent missed out on one of their top three. This year, there are thought to have been 4,000 more applicants for places — up from 87,000 last year to 91,000 — making the pressure even worse.

Families will be told which school their child has been allocated on national offer day tomorrow and children in London are expected to be the least likely in the country to get a place at their preferred school.

London Councils, which represents the 33 local authorities, has warned that more than 47,000 extra secondary places are needed in the capital over the next five years or more pupils will miss out.

Last year, London pupils fared the worst in the country for getting their top choice place — 19 of the 20 worst affected boroughs were here.

In Hammersmith and Fulham, only 52 per cent of pupils got a place in their preferred school. The figure was 53.4 per cent in Westminster and 57.9 per cent in Lambeth. Some families missed out on all six of their chosen schools, meaning some children were forced to attend under-performing schools.

Elizabeth Coatman of The Good Schools Guide said: “We are now in a position where nearly half of London’s boroughs have more applicants than they have school places. Local authorities are legally obliged to provide children with a place at school, but they no longer have the power to create new schools.

“The current demographic bulge will continue to exert pressure on secondary school places till the mid-2020s and, with the majority of London schools likely to be worse off under the new schools funding formula, the future does not look good.”

Parents have shared their concerns online. One mother wrote on Mums-net: “Already counting down the days until we find out which school she’s been allocated (if at all).” Another said: “I’d be massively disappointed if we don’t get our first choice for my daughter as we feel it is the best fit for her.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “The proportion of parents getting a place at their first choice of school remains stable. Last year 94.3 per cent of parents in London got an offer at one of their preferred schools.

“Nearly 200,000 additional pupil places were created in London between May 2010 and May 2015, and the Government is now pushing ahead with the creation of many more new school places.”

Fuente: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/almost-one-in-three-london-children-will-miss-out-on-first-choice-school-a3477736.html