Posted on Friday 1st March 2019
More than nine out of 10 parents will learn today that they have been allocated their first choice secondary school in Staffordshire.
Of the 7917 applications made for transfer at age 11, nearly 92 per cent of parents have been allocated their first preference school, with 95 per cent allocated one of their top three preferred schools.
This is despite increased pupil numbers putting pressure on secondary school admissions.
In 2019/20, the county council plans to deliver 360 extra secondary school places, at a cost of nearly £10 million.
Parents were given until the end of October to apply for a secondary school, and will receive emails and letters from today. The majority of parents applied online for a place.
Since November, the council’s admissions team has been working with schools and neighbouring authorities to ensure as many parents as possible receive a place at a preferred school.
County Councillor Philip White, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills said:
“In Staffordshire we have an excellent track record of achieving well above the national average for first preferences, and for top three preferences as a whole. We know the admissions process can be quite daunting for a lot of parents, as we do as much as we can to make the process as easy as possible.
“Giving clear guidance, plus working with schools in Staffordshire and in neighbouring authorities, means we can allocate school places efficiently and, in the vast majority of cases, allocate parents one of their top three preferred schools.
“We are still planning for the future too, with more secondary school places in the pipeline to cope with an increase in pupil numbers. This will ensure we can continue to allocate first preferences to the majority of parents.”