Nine in 10 offered first-choice school
‘This shows the broad selection of fantastic schools that Kent offers’
Thousands of children found out this week which Kent primary schools they have secured a place at this September.
Nine out of 10 youngsters have been offered their first preference - which is a slight increase on last year.
Kent County Council (KCC) says of the 17,175 Kent applicants, 16,787 (97.74%) will receive one of their three named schools and 15,486 (90.07%) will be offered their first preference.
Shellina Prendergast, KCC’s education cabinet member, said: “I am delighted to see that we have managed to offer first-preference places to 90% of our children, which shows the broad selection of fantastic schools that Kent offers.”
The number of children who did not receive any of their preferences is below 2.5%.
In many of these cases, Cllr Prendergast said it was because “parents named fewer than three schools, which limited the options KCC could consider before assigning them an alternative”.
“We appreciate this will be a disappointing and concerning time for those pupils and their
families, but we would urge them not to be discouraged as this is only the first stage in the applications process,” she added.
“Many pupils will secure places through waiting lists and reallocation, and I would like to reassure parents and guardians that a specialist KCC team is on hand to help them make the most of the options available to them.
“I hope that those in that situation will arrange to visit the school where they have been offered a place and speak to the staff, so they can then make an informed decision about whether or not it is appropriate for their child.”
The figures were similar for Medway council, where more than 91% of children were offered a place at their first
choice of primary school.
Education lawyer Graham Jones, the director of Whitehead Monckton, says there are only “very limited circumstances” in which parents can mount an appeal.
“That is not to say you shouldn’t try, but I have to advise parents the chances of success at primary level are very low,” he added.
“But you shouldn’t panic. The first thing to do when you know the outcome - whether it’s come by email or you’ve logged onto the website - you need to contact the school.
“Certainly do accept the place because you don’t want to find out by September you haven’t got the place.
“The second thing to do is, if there is a school you put on your list, go on that school’s waiting list because it’s quite fluid - places will be refused so you may get through on the waiting list.
“Look at the school’s Ofsted report. Is it as bad as you were led to believe?
“Go and visit the school, talk to the teachers and make enquiries. Don’t just assume you haven’t got the school you wanted and the one your child is now going to isn’t suitable.”
Parents and carers who applied online were set to receive an email after 4pm on Tuesday, indicating which school they had been offered.
Those who did not provide KCC with an email address will be sent notification by first class post.
Detailsofwhattodoifyou are unhappy with your child’s allocation can be found in the correspondence from KCC. For more go to www.tinyurl.com/ KMplaces or email primaryadmissions@kent.gov.uk