It's that time of the year when parents of youngsters who are about to go to school for the first time may still be agonising over where to send them.

The decision which school your child starts reception in can be based on factors including location, reputation - and where any brothers or sisters already go.

But mums and dads often worry about how many places are available and if their child will get in. We take a look at that issue - and aim to give parents some guidance.

Our search engine shows you how many reception places were available for the start of the current academic year at any school you are interested in - and how many chose it as their first preference.


Check out our search tool here - see how many people opted for the schools you are interested in as their first choice last year:


With the January 15 deadline for selections for September 2018 looming, CN Group also reveals the most popular schools - and which had surplus places.

The good news, though, is that parents across Cumbria are among the most likely in the country to secure their first choice of primary school.

Cumbria County Council states 97.3 per cent of children receive an offer of a place at their chosen school, while 99.2 per cent receive an offer for one of their three preferences.

The local authority obtained data shows 37 of 250 schools in Cumbria were oversubscribed last year - while the number of places available matched demand in a further nine.

While the percentage of children receiving a place at their first choice school is comparatively high in Cumbria, this is no consolation for those who are offered a second or third choice.

The data also shows that the most popular primary schools, which were selected as the first choice by the most mums and dads, are not necessarily those with the top Ofsted rating of outstanding, with many judged as good by government inspectors.

This shows selections are often made based on the reputation of some schools, how densely populated their catchment areas are and the facilities they boast on site.

Councillor Sue Sanderson, Cumbria County Council's schools and learning chief, said Cumbria had a high number of excellent schools that were at the very heart of their communities.

The former headteacher went on to add: "It's always a good idea to chose the school that you think best suits your child.

"This might even be a different school for siblings in some cases.

"We have good schools here which are incredibly creative in getting the best for every individual child through the curriculum and our environment.

"If you don't get your first choice there are often other similar, small schools nearby - it's one of the things we are lucky to have in Cumbria."


What do the schools say?

Carlisle's Belle Vue, a large primary school in the city's Beaver Road, emerged as the most sought after school in the county - with 60 places available in its reception year and 73 people listing it as their first choice.

Headteacher Andrew Cairns, who as a child attended Belle Vue Primary, which has a 'good' rating from government watchdog Ofsted, said he was immensely proud of the reputation the school has within its community.

"We are a large school with a large catchment area," he added.

"It's had a very good reputation locally for a long time and it is nice that so many parents select it as their first choice.

"I'm very proud of Belle Vue and the way it works closely with the community it serves and I'm determined the school doesn't just rely on its reputation but builds upon it for the future."

Also among the schools where demand outstripped supply was another north Cumbrian school: St Michael's CE Primary, in Carlisle Road, Dalston.

The school, which was rated as good by Ofsted in 2013, had 30 places available but saw 40 applications ahead of the September 2017 start.

The south of Cumbria also has some popular schools, with Yarlside Academy, in Barrow, and Dalton St Mary's, in Dalton, oversubscribed last year by six places each.

At Yarlside, in Red Oak Avenue, headteacher Janine Pierce said she understood the topic of securing a first choice school place could be stressful for some parents.

"We have a nursery here with many children hoping to continue into reception class, but it's hard to gauge how busy each year's intake will be because you don't know how many children in the catchment area are at a private nursery," she said.

"When parents visit they often comment on how well behaved our children are, the facilities we have and how many different activities and clubs we have at Yarlside."

As Yarlside is an academy, the school itself is responsible for carrying out its own appeals process.

Mrs Pierce added: "If we don't have enough places it can be very difficult for parents, especially if their child has come to the nursery here.

"We know it's a stressful time.

"We have had parents who live in the catchment area who didn't get in. It's very hard.

"People ask us what the chances are of their child getting a place but it's so hard to tell. It fluctuates from year to year."

Jericho School in Whitehaven had 59 applications last year for 52 places for the reception year.

James Blackwell, Jericho's headteacher, said it was a privilege to be at the helm of the school, located in Windsor Court.

"One of the things that attracts parents here is that Jericho really feels like a big family and people want their child to be a part of that," he said.

"One of the other things is that our staff are superb.

"They get to know each and every child so they can get the very best out of school life."

But Mr Blackwell added: "It's very disappointing for parents who don't get a place for their child.

"It can be very frustrating for people, I do know that."


What do the parents say?

Carlisle mum-of-three Lisa Nixon moved house 12 years ago - and catchment area for the school of her choice was a major factor.

Mrs Nixon's oldest son James, 20, was at Belle Vue Primary School, and she wanted to make sure her younger children would also have the opportunity to go.

Now, with her two younger sons Adam, nine, and Harry, four, both attending, she understands the pressure other parents feel while waiting to find out if they have secured a place at their first choice school.

"Belle Vue has been brilliant, it feels like extended family so really I wanted my younger children to go," she said.

"When we moved I got a map to make sure we were within catchment," Mrs Nixon added.

"It was that important to us.

"The staff really go the extra mile and they are both really happy there.

"I know it's a stressful time for parents when making the selection for primary school though I think children tend to settle wherever they go."


The most popular primary schools in Cumbria - how many times were they first choices last year?

  • Belle Vue Primary School, Carlisle - 73 first choice selections
  • Newlaithes Infant School, Carlisle - 66 first choice selections
  • Kingmoor Infant School, Carlisle - 62 first choice selections
  • Upperby Primary School, Carlisle - 62 first choice selections
  • Wigton Infant School - 62 first choice selections
  • Newbarns Primary and Nursery School, Barrow - 60 first choice selections
  • Robert Ferguson Primary School, Carlisle - 60 first choice selections
  • Jericho School, Whitehaven - 59 first choice selections
  • Ghyllside Primary School, Kendal - 55 first choice selections
  • St Martin & St Mary CE Primary School, Windermere - 55 first choice selections
  • Norman Street Primary School, Carlisle - 52 first choice selections
  • Stanwix School, Carlisle - 52 first choice selections

When is the deadline?

All applications for a reception place must be submitted to Cumbria County Council by January 15, 2018.

You will receive an offer of one place on April 16.

Places that are not taken up will be reallocated after May 11.


How are places allocated in Cumbria?

  • Admissions policies are set individually for each school.
  • These are all available to view online at Cumbria County Council's website here.
  • If there are more applications than places, the local authority will use the oversubscription criteria to allocate a place.
  • Often, the criteria for each school is set out as a list in order of importance.
  • It includes looked after children, catchment area and children with siblings already at the school.

What happens if you don't get your first choice?

You have a legal right to lodge an appeal to the independent appeal panel.

To do this, you must write to Cumbria County Council requesting an appeal.

In the meantime, you can check with the authority that your child's name is on a waiting list for your preferred school in case a place becomes available.

The panel will consider the points you raise in your appeal hearing before reaching a decision.