Getting a first choice of school for four and five-year-olds is a postcode lottery in Kirklees, it has been revealed.
Some reception classes are bursting at the seams with long waiting lists while others are crying out for pupils to start this September.
Many families living in west Dewsbury or HD3 which covers Lindley, Oakes, Paddock and Outlane are being told there is no place for their child at their chosen school.
However, families living in the more rural HD9 and HD8 postcodes – the Holme Valley and Shelley Pyramid catchment area – are spoilt for choice when deciding on a first school.
Places have already been allocated for the academic year starting in September and appeals are currently underway.
Lindley Infants is the most oversubscribed and Kirklees Council recently approved plans to build a new primary school for 210 children in the grounds of Royds Hall Community School to ease pressure in HD3.
Meanwhile, many headteachers in HD9 and HD8 are surprised at the dozens of empty reception places in schools which have traditionally always been full. Now some are worried that falling number will affect future budgets.
According to Clr Cath Harris, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, the problem is that population growth is not uniform across the borough.
Gaynor Leadbeater is headteacher at Highburton CofE (VC) First School (recently upgraded by Ofsted from Satisfactory to Good) currently has 11 vacancies in its 30-place reception class for September.
“It is unusual,” she said. “Last year we had 60 applications for 30 places and it’s quite a surprise not to have a full reception class.
“The only things we can think of, because we were so full in the past, is that siblings have moved up through the school system and, secondly, due to the financial situation families are not moving house as children get older. We are not getting new families.
“It may be just a blip, but it is slightly worrying because it does affect our budget.
“We are hopeful of getting more children as things can change right up to the start of the school year if families move into the area.”
Honley CofE (VC) Infant and Nursery School (currently rated as Outstanding) has 66 reception places – with 16 of them as yet unfilled.
Headteacher Christine Lancaster said: “I have been here 10 years and this is really, really unusual. We have 50 children this year and it looks like a small number for next year.
“Kirklees warned us this would be the case based on their population figures and it is really going to affect our budget. We will have to play it by ear.”
At the end of 2013, Kirklees Cabinet agreed a £12m programme of works to renew and improve school accommodation, including the addition of new places.
A council spokesman said: “We monitor population levels across the district so that we always have an accurate picture of the demand for school places. Population growth is not uniform across Kirklees and there can be peaks and troughs in different areas.
“Growth is currently occurring in specific areas, particularly Huddersfield north and south west and Dewsbury west. In partnership with our schools we work hard to meet the demand for places and to ensure they are of good quality, helping children and young people to enjoy high standards of education.”
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