More Shropshire pupils missing out on first choice school

There were 2,913 applications in the Shropshire Council area, and 2,630 got their preferred option.

But an increase of more than 80 pupils over last year meant that the percentage of pupils getting their first choice dropped.

About 90 per cent of pupils were given their first choice in 2019 compared to 91.7 per cent in 2018.

In Telford & Wrekin, More than 82 per cent of children will be attending their first choice – an increase from last year.

Only 376 pupils were not admitted to their top choice this year, down from 465 disappointed youngsters last year.

Overall, 95 per cent of children will be going to one of their preferred schools in Telford this September.

In the Shropshire Council area 154 pupils have been allocated at their second preference, with 31 being allocated their third. Nearly 100 pupils have been given an alternative school.

It comes as up to 115,000 youngsters were expected to be declined their first choice nationally.

Education leaders in Telford today welcomed the improvement in the number of pupils getting their first-choice secondary school.

Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Education, said: “I am delighted that here in Telford & Wrekin we have bucked the national trend and our numbers of pupils are higher than many other areas nationwide.

Analysis

“In 2018, 465 pupils did not get their first choice of school. That has fallen in 2019 to 376 and in actual fact almost 95 per cent of pupils got a place at one of their preferred schools, with more than 82 per cent getting their first choice.”

Based on analysis of birth rates and the number of children leaving primary school, the Good School's Guide estimates that 606,000 applied for places this year nationally - an increase of 23,000 on 2018.

Last year the proportion of children missing out on a place at their top choice of secondary school rose for the fifth year in a row.

The Department for Education said more than 825,000 school places had been created since 2010.

Bernadette John, director at The Good Schools Guide, said: "In recent years, some local authorities have struggled to find enough places at primary school level and now we have begun to see the impact on secondary schools.

"And, for the next few years, it will get worse."

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ""There is intense pressure on secondary school places in some areas of the country for schools rated by Ofsted as 'outstanding' and 'good' and this results in parents missing out on their preferred choice.

"This situation will become more challenging because the number of pupils in secondary schools is rising and is expected to increase by 428,000 over the next seven years."