Q: Bristol has had a problem with demand for primary school places exceeding supply in some parts of the city for 10 years. Why has so little been done to resolve it?

A: Our major focus over the last decade has been the transformation of our secondary school provision.

We have been aware of problems with primary places in some areas and have dealt with that on a case-by case basis. Last year, we drew up our Primary Review to tackle both surplus and shortage place issues.

Q: This year more than 300 families have not been allocated one of their three preferred primaries.

Why is the situation so bad in 2009?

Is it the worst it has been?

A: We received 4,247 individual on-time applications and made 3,940 offers.

We have received the responses to those offers and are now looking at those along with applications received since the October deadline. On March 23 we will draw up waiting lists for each school and on April 27 a fresh round offers will be made.

We believe this will result in at least some of the families who have not yet been offered a school getting in to one of their preferred schools.

In previous years, we have offered everyone a place somewhere at the first round. The volume of complaints we have received as a result of not making offers is about the same as under the previous method, where people were offered schools they found unacceptable.

In some areas of the city the numbers of children have risen faster than forecast, which has added pressure this year.

Q: When will decisions be taken about where temporary classes will be placed for 2009?

A: When we are certain that additional accommodation is available and can be accommodated on the sites.

We expect that most of these will be decided in time for the second round of offers in April but some of the complex ones are likely to be later.

Q: Why was this not done sooner?

A: We started thinking about this early in the autumn term. The issue is about how rapidly this was progressed.

There were also some doubts about availability of portable classrooms but we are now advised that these can be supplied.

Q: Where will the temporary classrooms be?

A: We are in talks with the following schools. However, this does not mean we will install classes at all of them. It depends on the agreement of the governors, space and planning issues, among other things.

The figures show the number of places offered at each school so far, without any extra classes. Infant school pupils must by law not be taught in classes of more than 30.

Little Mead (45)

Henleaze (90)

Hannah More (30)

Millpond (30)

Cabot (30)

Sefton Park (60)

St Barnabas (25)

Glenfrome (30)

Q: Couldn't you put temporary classrooms for reception children on the Brunel field in Ashley Down or at Fairfield School?

A: That would be extremely problematic. Having part of a school hundreds of yards away from the main resource is not a viable option.

Q: What about the suggestion that teachers could be brought in from undersubscribed schools to work at the more popular ones?

A: That again would be difficult as teachers are employed by individual schools. We can't just shift people about, particularly on a temporary basis.

Q: Do you think primary school children in urban areas should have access to schools within walking distance?

A: It is the council's policy that children should be able to walk to school where possible. All school travel plans encourage walking and cycling.

Q: Do you think it is acceptable for families to have to travel across the city on public buses, passing several schools, to get to a primary that has places?

A: We offer places in the closest possible primary school to a child's home.

If this is more than two miles away, both the child and the carer will be given a bus pass. We know of about a dozen children travelling to primary schools in this way at the moment. We would always minimise the number of children for whom we have to provide transport.

Q: Do you think transporting groups of four-year-olds by community minibus to schools outside their home community is a good idea?

A: In general, no, but if this was a solution favoured by a community we would be supportive.

Q: Do you agree with families being advised that they can educate their children at home rather than undertake a lengthy journey to school?

A: As a council we do not recommend home education as an alternative.

However, parents do have the right to educate their children at home if they wish to and we are obliged to inform them of that.

Q: This situation is an unwelcome introduction to the state education system for many parents.

At one end of the scale, it may force some parents to opt for independent schooling for their children and at the other it disadvantages children, many from minority ethnic families, who are in already deprived circumstances. How can this help build parental confidence in Bristol's schools?

A: We would point out that 93 per cent of applicants have had a welcome introduction to education in Bristol, having been offered one of their preferred schools.