Plan for new automatic waiting list for school places

Under a proposed new system, families that are not offered a place at their first preference school will automatically be added to the waiting list for schools they listed higher up on their application form than the school where their child was offered a place.

This would mean that, for example, if a child is offered their third preference school, they will be added to the waiting list for their first and second preference schools.

Currently, families have to ask to go on a waiting list.

The move to the automated system is expected to be approved by the Council’s Executive at its meeting this morning. If given the go ahead, and subject to discussions with schools, the new system should be up and running for the primary and secondary school intakes for the 2023/24 school year.

Cllr Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s deputy leader and Executive member for Education, Employment and Skills, said: “Across Bradford District the vast majority of pupils gain places at their first-preference schools, but we know it can be somewhat disappointing for those families that don’t.

“Our School Admissions team are always looking at ways we can make the system work better for families and moving to an automatic waiting list system would be a welcome development.

“We continue to work hard to ensure schools in our district have the capacity to meet the demand for places. We understand how much it means to families to secure a place for their child at a preferred school and try hard to achieve this where possible."

Last year the Council saw a rise in the percentage of pupils that were offered a place at their first preference school at both primary and secondary school level. At primary level, 91 per cent of pupils were offered a place at their first preference school and at secondary level, the figure was more than 76 per cent, which was a six year high.