Most get first choice of secondary school

Parents of Cheshire East school children have received confirmation of the allocation of secondary school places on national offer Day.

The majority of parents of Cheshire East school children will get their first choice of secondary school place after a rise in ‘on time’ applications from 2018. This follows a social media campaign to increase the number of parents applying before the 31October deadline.

Cheshire East Council has worked with local schools to offer preference places to 96.5 per cent of Cheshire East residents with 90 per cent offered their first preference of secondary school.

This figure is expected to increase before pupils start in September 2019, as some parents will decline places as their circumstances change and places become available.

For the very small proportion of parents who have not received a place at their first preference school and who would prefer an alternative school, parents have the right to submit an appeal and go on the waiting list for another school or schools.

Parents are advised to accept their child’s offer, even if they would prefer an alternative school, until they have confirmed alternative arrangements for their child’s education.

For further advice, parents can look at the Cheshire East website, the website of their preferred school, email admissions@cheshireeast.gov.uk or call 0300 123 5012.

Parents are also encouraged to follow the family information service on social media for tips and advice. The service also runs sessions locally, where parents can access advice and support.

The number of applications for school places in Cheshire East continues to be high. In 2019, the total number of applications rose to 4,954, 101 more applications than in 2018. More than 800 applications came from families living outside the borough, an indication of the popularity of Cheshire East schools.

Councillor Jos Saunders, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “The borough has an excellent record in seeing pupils and their parents getting their choice of secondary school and this reflects well on the standard of education service we provide in Cheshire East.

“We work hard to ensure there is sufficient place provision for our children, knowing that access to a school of choice is an important factor in a child’s development and education.

“We continue to receive high numbers of applications from families outside the borough and this is evidence of the popularity of our schools and high standards of education.”

Families of children starting school for the first time in September 2019 will receive their primary school offer place on 16 April 2019. Parents can find out more about the school admissions in Cheshire East from the council’s website or call 0300 123 5012: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FISCheshireEast Facebook: Family Information Service (Cheshire East Council)