11:09am Tuesday 16th March 2010
PRIMARY school applications in a North-East town have risen by nearly one-sixth during the past two years.
Parents applied for 1,244 new places for their young children at schools in Darlington in 2010 - 15.3 per cent more than in 2008.
Council officers said the figures, which are the second highest across the country, are because of population trends including 100 new army families moving to the town.
The survey, carried out by one national newspaper, showed Darlington was second to only Newham, in London.
Since 2008, there have been five planning applications made within the borough for new classroom blocks.
They include two at Alderman Leach Primary School, which is part of the new West Park housing development in Darlington.
Applications have also been made at St John's CE Primary School, Reid Street Primary School and Heighington CE Primary School.
A new site for Northwood Primary School to replace North Road Primary School was opened earlier this year.
In 2008, £12.5m worth of Government funding was allocated to Darlington to create more primary school places in the town.
A report at the time showed that Darlington was one of four authorities in the country with an increasing requirement for school places.
Half of the money was spent on the new Northwood school, with the rest going to Alderman Leach, Harrowgate Hill, Heathfield and Whinfield.
A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said: £Each year, the council reviews its admission arrangements to ensure that all school places are offered fairly and consistently.
"Increases in admissions do occur due to different trends in population numbers, for instance, in Darlington we have recently welcomed 100 new families to Catterick Garrison.
"Each year, we make arrangement to accommodate these trends and source Primary Capital Programme money to ensure school places are allocated and available."
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