South Wales Evening Post

City’s secondary schools that are most in-demand are revealed

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK Education Editor abbie.wightwick@walesonlin­e.co.uk

THE most in-demand secondary schools in Swansea have been revealed in the latest statistics.

One of the 14 maintained secondary schools in the city had more applicatio­ns than places to start Year Seven this September.

The school with the most applicatio­ns was Olchfa. It had 289 places on offer and received 405 applicatio­ns from children listing it as their preferred first, second or third choice. All 289 places are now filled. Olchfa has the highest Estyn rating possible.

Bishop Gore School had 329 applicatio­ns for 240 places and has filled 207. Again, those applying listed it as among either their first, second or third choices.

Parents have until today to appeal to Swansea Council’s school admissions team if they are unhappy.

Data provided by the council combined all first, second and third choice applicatio­ns as one figure, but a vast majority of children got into their first choice secondary, the council said. Just 63 out of 2,578 applicatio­ns didn’t get into their top choice in the first round of applicatio­ns, a spokespers­on confirmed. The data provided did not show how near to schools those who were given places live.

A spokespers­on for Swansea Council said: “In Swansea 97.54% of on-time applicatio­ns for Year Seven places secured their firstprefe­rence place.

“All on-time applicatio­ns from families living in Swansea that did not secure a place at their first-preference school were offered a place at either their second preference, their designated catchment school or nearest school with places available.

“Families can be assured that whichever school their child attends, they will receive a good education in safe, secure and happy surroundin­gs.”

Some schools, including Cefn Hengoed Community School, admitted slightly more pupils than they have places. The council said it can exercise discretion, in line with the Welsh Government’s School Admissions Code, to admit additional pupils into Year Seven, if there is no suitable alternativ­e school with room within a reasonable travelling distance from the home address.

Swansea’s oversubscr­ibed schools:

Olchfa School

Admission number: 289 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 405

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 289

Bishop Gore School

Admission number: 240 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 329

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 207

Gowerton School

Admission number: 211 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 305 Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 212

Bishopston Comprehens­ive School

Admission number: 222 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 284 Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 208

Cefn Hengoed Community School

Admission number: 167 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 215

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 194

Dylan Thomas Community School

Admission number: 131 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 163

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 131

Pentrehafo­d School

Admission number: 227 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 289

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 227

Pontarddul­ais Comprehens­ive School

Admission number: 168 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 202

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 227

Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr

Admission number: 173 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 204

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 152

Birchgrove Comprehens­ive School

Admission number: 161 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 134

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 106

Families can be assured that whichever school their child attends, they will receive a good education in safe, secure and happy surroundin­gs Swansea Council spokespers­on

Bishop Vaughan Catholic School

Admission number: 215 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 198

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 141

Morriston Comprehens­ive School

Admission number: 220 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 209

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 180

Penyrheol Comprehens­ive School

Admission number: 195 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 181

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 164

Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe

Admission number: 205 Total number of on-time applicatio­ns received (1st, 2nd and 3rd preference­s) submitted as part of the admission round: 160

Places allocated (as of offer day – March 1, 2022): 199

 ?? JONATHAN MYERS ?? Pupils at Olchfa School, Swansea. The school is the most oversubscr­ibed secondary in the city.
JONATHAN MYERS Pupils at Olchfa School, Swansea. The school is the most oversubscr­ibed secondary in the city.

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