14/03/07 - School Admissions Success For Swindon Parents

School admissions success for Swindon parents

The majority of Year 6 children in Swindon have been offered their first choice of secondary school, Swindon Borough Council has announced.

Ninety seven per cent of applications were approved - the highest number since the 2004/5 academic year. Last year 96 per cent of pupils were offered their first choice.

The figures are also much higher than the national average with 85 per cent of parents being offered their first choice, according to the Department of Education and Skills.

Parents whose applications have been successful will start receiving the news later this week, whilst the remaining 3 per cent of pupils will be automatically placed on a waiting list for their first choice school. The parents have the right to appeal against not being offered their first choice, or the alternative school offered.

Cllr Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for Children Services, said: “I am happy for parents that the vast majority of applications have been successful, no doubt taking a weight off their mind and enabling them to plan ahead for September.”

The news follows the Council’s efforts last year to encourage parents to use the new online admissions service. The Council came 14th out of 150 local authorities to meet the service take up rates which were set nationally.

Members of the public requiring more information about applications can contact the school admissions team on (01793) 463000.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, Conservative North Swindon Parliamentary Candidate, "It is essential we continue to do all we can to give parents every opportunity to send their children to their first choice school.  Myself, and fellow Conservative Councillors welcomed the recent increase in school places in the Northern Sector, where there was particularly high pressure on school places."