CHILDREN are being turned away for places at almost half of Oxfordshire’s primary schools.

The pressure on places at popular primaries is revealed by new figures obtained by the Oxford Mail showing 93 out of 232 schools could not take all the children who put them as their first choice.

However there were 120 schools that still had places available because they were less popular.

A rising birthrate is also partly to blame for the pressure. Melinda Tilley – the county councillor responsible for school improvement – hoped raising standards at all schools so parents would be happy with all the options available to their children would help.

St Andrew’s CofE Primary in Headington was the most oversubscribed in the county, with 56 pupils applying for just 30 school places.

Mrs Tilley, the county councillor responsible for school improvement, said: “Schools can be extended and we can put in more classrooms.

“But the problem is parents quite rightly want one of the good schools, and do not really want to put down two other options.

“What we need to do is bring all schools up to that standard so parents have a real choice.

“A the moment we are working on a strategy to try to develop schools so they are all up to standard.”

Oxfordshire County Council is embarking on a drive to provide extra city places.

This includes plans to expand Orchard Meadow Primary in Blackbird Leys from 283 pupils up to a maximum of 420.

The council is also consulting on extending St Christopher’s C of E Primary in Cowley to a 60-pupil intake, increasing pupils numbers from 324 to 420.

New Marston and Larkrise primaries have already grown to take 60 pupils a year.

Mrs Tilley said that, despite Government cuts, the county council would find the capital money for school expansions.

Figures released to the Oxford Mail show that last year, almost 1,000 out of 7,736 children did not get the first choice school.

In Oxford, 10 of the 15 over-subscribed schools are rated “good” by Ofsted. The council said 89 per cent got their first preference, six per cent their second, and two per cent their third choice school. All children got a place.

But demand at different schools varied wildly. As of September 2, 401 school places were left empty across the county with 120 schools facing lack of demand for the places available.