Shropshire primary school places: Council in England's top areas for parents' first choice

Parents in the county now know where their child will be going to primary school in September - but how many got their first choice?

Shropshire Council has come out as one of the top areas across England for the number of parents securing their first choice primary school for their child.

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A total of 2,516 children were allocated their first choice - 97.4 per cent of all those who applied.

As of 5pm on Thursday, April 16, only four councils returning figures were higher than Shropshire Council - Cumberland with 99.6 per cent, Hartlepool with 98.27 per cent, Northumberland with 97.6 per cent, and Stockton-on-Tees with 97.59 per cent.

In the Telford & Wrekin Council area 1,906 children secured their first choice - 91 per cent of all those who applied.

In total Shropshire saw 2, 578 - some 99.8 per cent given one of their choices, while in Telford & Wrekin the figure was 98 per cent.

For Shropshire there were a total of 2,582 applications, with 53 youngsters (2.1 per cent given their second choice, nine (0.3 per cent) given their third choice, and four (0.2 per cent) given an alternative preference.

For Telford there were 2,087 applications with every child offered a place. A total of 99 applicants received their second choice, 36 their third choice and five their fourth choice.

Telford & Wrekin Council said “a small number of children will be offered a place at an alternative school”.

‘This is really good news’

Andy Hall, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said: “At this stage in the admissions process, we’re delighted that, as in previous years, a high percentage of pupils have been offered their first preference school - and over 99 per cent of Shropshire parents have been offered a place at one of their four preferred schools.

“The really good news this year is that Shropshire children who received their first preference is 97.4 per cent, and 99.8 per cent received one of their preferred schools. This is an increase from last year, with just four children not being allocated a preferred school.

“We’ve always met a high percentage of first preference requests and have always been ranked amongst the top three West Midlands authorities – something we’re very proud of.”

Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education, Employment and Skills, said: “Year on year, we are consistently able to offer a majority of parents and carers a place for their child at one of their preferred primary schools, with the vast majority being offered their first preference.

“This is positive news and underlines our continued commitment to protecting, caring for and investing in our services, while increasing school places and widening flexibility and choice for parents and carers.

“In recent years our council has been investing heavily in schools across the borough, expanding schools’ capacity by hundreds of places, to ensure every local child and young person can attend a local school and benefit from modern facilities.

“With just a few months to go until children begin their school journey, I’d encourage parents and carers to take a look at our 5 by 5 initiative, which suggests lots of activities for children to try to help them feel ready and confident to start school.”