More than 90 per cent of Cambridgeshire children offered place at first choice secondary school

Figures show more places have been offered this year than last, and more applications were made online.

A total of 6,198 students have been offered a place at their first choice secondary school for this September – 90.9 per cent of the total. This compares with 90.5 per cent last year.

The proportion offered their second choice was down slightly at 4.5 per cent (5.5 per cent last year) but those offered a place at their third choice school rose from 1.1 to 1.6 per cent.

The number of applications received online this year was 6,668, compared with 6,526 in 2020.

Students heard today about which secondary school they have been offered a place for September 2021.

Councillor Simon Bywater, Chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee, said: “I am impressed that so many students have been allocated a place at their first choice of secondary school in what has been a very difficult year. Our admissions team have worked tirelessly to ensure the transition from primary to secondary school will be as seamless as possible. Applying online and applying early have been shown to be the best ways of securing a first choice place.”