More than 90 per cent of children have received offers for their first choice of secondary schools.
Offers for places at secondary schools have been made available to parents today. Of the 7,507 offers made to secondary schools, 93 per cent of children will receive their first preference school (6,948 children).
The figure for second preference offers is 5.7per cent (426), while third preference offers is 0.6per cent (47). A total of 86 children will be offered a local school that isn’t one of their preferences.
Because of appeals and movement on the reserve list, it is normal for the percentage of first preferences to increase by the time children start in September.
Parents have until the end of March to lodge an appeal if they are unhappy with the offered school. If they return the appeal form by the deadline it will be heard before the end of term – if it is received late it will still be heard but this may be in the last week of term or even in September.
More than 96 per cent of parents applied using the online application system and they can log on to see the offered school from today (March 2).
Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, said: “I am delighted to see so many children getting their first school of preference and this should be even better by September. It is always our intention to support as many parents as possible with their choice of school.
“There are many stories about how stressful the admissions process can be but every year the overwhelming majority of parents have no problems in gaining admission to the school of their choice.”
