Council Statement

Changes to the Admissions Arrangements or Oversubscription Criteria 

2a. Eldwick Primary School Priority Areas:

As part of the reorganisation process in 2000, Eldwick primary school was increased in size and moved from the school building in Eldwick to occupy the former Gilstead middle school in Gilstead. 

To protect children living in Eldwick from having no other school within reasonable distance to attend, following consultation the oversubscription criteria at the school included priority areas. The main priority area 1 covered Eldwick with the second are around Gilstead.

Since that time a considerable number of houses have been built in the area and many are occupied by families. The child population of the area has grown and over recent years has meant that children living in Gilstead have not been able to gain places at the primary school.

As we are now a number of years on from reorganisation we need to consider whether these two priority areas are still appropriate, need to be changed or removed completely.

There is still a need to protect families living in Eldwick Village as they do not have reasonable access to other available schools other than travelling to and past Eldwick Primary School and with this in mind it is proposed to retain but adjust priority area 1.

Should the increase in planned admission number be agreed following consultation then additional children will gain access to the school. 

Studies modelling the distance of homes to schools within a half mile radius have been  researched around this area to ensure that all children could have reasonable access to primary schools. Suggested changes to priority area 1 and priority area 2 are attached as Appendix 1.  Current priority areas for Eldwick Primary Schools are shown in Appendix 2.

All these documents can be viewed on the Bradford Schools Online website  http://bso.bradford.gov.uk/SchoolOrg