Nearly 80% get first choice for secondary schools

March 6, 2019 by Leigh-on-sea.com

Nearly 80% of Southend-on-Sea children will start secondary school in September 2019 at their first choice school.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has released the data on secondary school allocations following ‘national offer day’ on 1 March 2019.

Out of 2161 applications made, 92% received one of their top three preferences, 1% higher than in 2018.

Cllr Helen Boyd, cabinet member for children and learning, says: “I am very pleased that 79% of applicants received offers for their first preference and 92% have one of their top three. We make every effort to ensure that children of secondary school age who have applied are offered a place.

“Secondary applications are increasing all the time and this year they were up by 117, but despite this the number of children gaining their top preference has increased by 143 (3%) which emphasises the hard work that our school admissions and school development teams do.

“As ever, and whilst the majority of people have got what they wanted, we of course recognise that there will be disappointed families who did not receive either their first choice or who did not receive any of their top three. That is why we continue to work hard on plans to increase the number of pupil places available locally. In addition, we recently committed to ensuring that there are sufficient places offering good quality and choice to our young people and their parents and carers.”

Visit www.southend.gov.uk/admissions for further information.

2019
1 - Number of Pupils who applied for a secondary school place	2161
2 - Number of Pupils offered their first preference	1693	79%
3 - Number of Pupils offered their second preference	203	9%
4 - Number of Pupils offered their third preference	89	4%
5 - Number of Pupils offered their fourth preference	34	1%
6 - Number of Pupils offered their fifth preference	17	1%
7 - Number of Pupils offered a place that was not on their application form	125	6%

2018
1 - Number of Pupils who applied for a secondary school place	2044
2 - Number of Pupils offered their first preference	1550	76%
3 - Number of Pupils offered their second preference	226	11%
4 - Number of Pupils offered their third preference	82	4%
5 - Number of Pupils offered their fourth preference	50	3%
6 - Number of Pupils offered their fifth preference	22	1%
7 - Number of Pupils offered a place that was not on their application form	114	5%


2017
1 - Number of Pupils who applied for a secondary school place	1921
2 - Number of Pupils offered their first preference	1461	76%
3 - Number of Pupils offered their second preference	167	9%
4 - Number of Pupils offered their third preference	93	5%
5 - Number of Pupils offered their fourth preference	38	2%
6 - Number of Pupils offered their fifth preference	25	1%
7 - Number of Pupils offered a place that was not on their application form	136	7%

2016
1 - Number of Pupils who applied for a secondary school place	1889
2 - Number of Pupils offered their first preference	1495	79%
3 - Number of Pupils offered their second preference	184	10%
4 - Number of Pupils offered their third preference	81	4%
5 - Number of Pupils offered their fourth preference	28	1.5%
6 - Number of Pupils offered their fifth preference	11	0.5%
7 - Number of Pupils offered a place that was not on their application form	90	5%