More than one in ten Barking and Dagenham parents are failing to get their child a place at their preferred primary school, leading them to appeal to the council.
The latest statistics from the Department for Education show that in 2010/11 a total of 386 parents in the borough whose youngsters were about to start school were unhappy with their offer.
As the total number of school admission for the time frame (September 2010 to January 2011) was 3,518, this amounted to an appeal rate of just under 11 per cent.
The shortage of primary school places is one of Barking and Dagenham’s biggest challenges and the problem is deepening.
A fast-growing population is the main cause, with the number of primary-aged children expected to grow from around 20,000 to 30,000 in the next decade.
Barking and Dagenham Council recently announced it is looking into building schools in parks and other public spaces to help alleviate the problem.
Have you appealed to Barking and Dagenham Council against a school place your child was offered?
If so, please contact the Post by emailing postnewsdesk@archant.co.uk, calling 0208 477 3778 or posting a comment on community social network Streetlife.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here