School places: Majority of children get first choice secondary school offers

Rotherham Council have reported that 91.1 per cent of children have been allocated their first choice Secondary School, which outperforms most of the UK by providing pupils with their preferred place.

Monday March 3 was National Offer Day where Year Six children and their families learn which secondary school they will be attending this September.

More than 3,200 school place offers have been made to pupils in Rotherham, if an application was submitted on time. In all, 97.1 per cent of pupils in Rotherham have been offered a place at one of their three preferred schools this year.

Nationally, 82.9 per cent of pupils were offered their first-choice secondary school place in 2024 and 94.6 per cent one of their preferences according to the Department for Education.

Councillor Victoria Cusworth, cabinet member for children and young people’s services at Rotherham Council said: “As a council, we are committed to helping every child reach their full potential. That’s why I’m extremely happy to see that so many children in Rotherham have been accepted into their first-choice secondary schools.”

Pupils who were not offered one of their three preferences have been allocated either their catchment area school or the nearest school to their home. No schools in Rotherham refused applications for children living in the catchment area.

Any parents or carers who were not successful in gaining a place in a preferred school have a right of appeal, via an independent appeal panel.