More children than ever get place at one of their preferred secondary schools
Over two thousand children across the borough will be offered places at secondary schools today, with more children than ever who applied on-time being offered a place at one of their preferred schools.
Today – 1 March – is National Offer Day, when children up and down the country will learn which secondary school they will attend for the 2021/22 academic year.
In Telford and Wrekin, we received more secondary applications than ever before, and have offered more places at first preference schools compared to previous years.
2222 applications were received on time and every applicant who applied was offered a school place.
In total 94.8 per cent of applicants were offered a place at one of their preferred schools, with the remaining 5.8 per cent offered alternative places.
Of those, 1773 (79.8 per cent) received their first preference, 244 (11 per cent) their second preference and 63 (3 per cent) their third preference.
Cllr Shirley Reynolds, Telford and Wrekin Council's cabinet member for Children, Young People, Education & Lifelong Learning said: “The number of applications we’re receiving each year is increasing, and we’re working with our schools, to meet demand and parental preferences where possible.
“We’re continuing to provide more places through our commitment to expand secondary schools within the borough and have made sure that, once again, no-one who applies on-time is without a place.
“We’ve also been able to offer nearly 95% of applicants one of their preferences”
Cllr Shirley Reynolds added: “Putting down only one school doesn’t increase your chances of getting in there, sadly it may increase your chances of disappointment. We strongly recommend that all families contact their local schools to discuss viewing arrangements and then use all four preferences on their application form.”
The application process for school places is now entirely online, meaning parents can view their results on offer day, rather than having to wait for a letter to be posted out to them.
2020 2021
Total Number of Applications 2217 2222
1st Preferences Met 1762 1773
2nd Preferences Met 204 244
3rd Preferences Met 58 63
Any Preferences Met 2045 2094
Alternative Offers 172 128
No Offers 0 0
2020 2021
1st Preferences Met 79.5% 79.8%
2nd Preferences Met 9.2% 11%
3rd Preferences Met 2.6% 3%
Any Preferences Met 92.2% 94.8%
Alternative Offers 7.8% 5.8%
No Offers 0% 0%
