Challenging times as hundreds fail to get preferred school place

Applications from out of county put strain on system

Education chiefs are facing a growing challenge to find enough school places as more and more applications come from outside Kent.

The warning came as the Kent County Council revealed 19,442 applications for secondary places were made this year, an increase of 645 on last year.

Parents found out on Wednesday last week where there child has been allocated a place on what is now known as National Admissions Day.

Despite the growing pressure, KCC says it has managed to give most children either their first or second preference.

Cllr Roger Gough, cabinet member for education, said: “As we predicted, this has proved Kent’s most challenging year due to record numbers of applicants.

“In spite of the significant increase, 13,446 families will receive their first preference and 1,857 their second preference school.”

KCC data shows 616 children were not offered a place at any of the schools they asked for.

At the same time, 250 more children succeeded in getting their first preference than last year, and overall 96% were offered a place at one of the four schools they applied for.

Cllr Gough said increasing numbers of applications came from outside the county – including London and neighbouring authorities.

Of the 2,745 applications from elsewhere, about a third – 810 – were successful.

He said: “Although this is a credit to our schools and their growing popularity, it makes meeting parental preferences ever more challenging.”

Some applicants failed to name more than one preference.

Cllr Gough added: “This limits the opportunity to access local schools at the outset and may mean we must offer an available school outside the immediate area if local schools have been filled with named preferences.

“For those who have not secured a preferred school, I would like to reassure parents this is the very first stage of the process and that a specialist Kent County Council team is on hand to help with any queries they may have.

“There will be considerable movement through waiting lists and the appeals process between now and September.”

Roger Gough, cabinet member for education, said this year’s allocation process has proved very challenging for KCC