Almost all Shropshire pupils win a place at first choice school

On national offer day yesterday, approximately 530,000 English 11-year-olds found out if they had gained a place at their preferred school for the next academic year.

Under Shropshire Council, 95 per cent of parents are celebrating their child securing a place at their chosen school, with 2,537 pupils being allocated their top choice.

Out of a total 2,669 Shropshire applicants, a further 93 pupils, 3.5 per cent, received an offer for their second choice school and 11 pupils, just 0.4 per cent, were given a place at their third choice.

Under Shropshire Council, just one per cent of pupils, 28 in total, were made an alternative offer to the three choices they had applied for.

And final year primary school pupils are also celebrating in Telford and Wrekin today where 96 per cent of pupils have been offered their first or second choice school.

A total of 88 per cent, 1,638 pupils, were offered a place at their top choice secondary school while 153 pupils, eight per cent of the overall applicant, were offered their second choice.

Just 48 applicants, 2.5 per cent, missed out on a place at their first or second choice, after 39 pupils were offered their third choice and just nine pupils were offered a place at their final choice.

Under Telford and Wrekin, 30 pupils, 1.5 per cent were offered a place at a school which was not one of their preferences.

Nationwide, tens of thousands of youngsters are likely to miss out on their top pick.

In 2013 around one in six 11-year-olds in England did not get into their chosen school, according to official figures.

Figures for first choice allocations were down two per cent on last year for both Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council.

For September 2013, Shropshire Council saw a record breaking 97 per cent of pupils allocated their first preference and in 2013 90 per cent of children under Telford and Wrekin Council were allocated their first choice.