More than 94 per cent of children will go to first choice primary school

Today is National Offer Day, when children up and down the country learn which primary school they will attend from the 2019/20 academic year.

In Telford & Wrekin, 2,006 applications were received on time. Of those, 94 per cent received their first preference. The figure went up to 97 per cent if second preferences are included.

Out of 2,006 applications, 1891 received their first choice, 66 their second, nine their third, and three their fourth. Alternative offers were made in 37 cases.

In the Shropshire Council area 94.2 per cent received their first choice. Second preferences were allocated to 3.2 per cent, and third preferences to 0.7 per cent.

Out of 2,758 applications, 2,598 received their first choice, 88 their second, and 20 their third. An alternative school was allocated to in 52 cases.

Clive Jones, director of children’s and adult services at Telford & Wrekin Council said: “We have invested heavily in our primary schools in recent years, increasing the number of places available in schools in the areas where we knew they would be needed.

“Today’s figures show that this long-term approach has paid off and we are able to continue to offer more families places at their preferred schools than the regional and national averages, which is excellent news.”

Karen Bradshaw, Shropshire Council’s director of children’s services, said: “We are really pleased that such a high percentage of pupils will be going to their first preference of primary school in 2019. Although there is pressure for primary school places across the country, this has not been experienced to the same degree in Shropshire, where there are only a few pressure points.

“We work hard to ensure that as many children as possible are able to attend their preferred school. Although it is not possible in every case, more than 98 per cent of applicants will attend one of their top three preferred schools and all applicants have been offered a place.”