Secondary School offers
85% percent of in-borough applicants have been offered a place at one of their first three preferred secondary schools.
Yesterday (1 March), Kingston Council made the initial allocation of Year 7 offers for this September. This year, the parents/carers of 1,894 children applied for a place – compared with 1,853 last year.
64% have been offered a place at their first preference secondary school, compared to last year’s figure of 72%. In addition 85% have been offered one of their top three preferences (90% last year) and 92% have received one of their preferences per se (94% last year).
Currently there are 158 children without an offer of a secondary school place, compared with 82 at this time last year.
Cllr Diane White, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services including Education, said:
“Our schools are deservedly popular as they offer excellent, inclusive education for local children.
“I know that this will be an anxious time for the children and their families who are yet to receive an offer. Parents/carers are advised to carefully read the notes which explain what to do next. We know from experience that sufficient places will become available to be re-offered to those on the waiting-lists from 26 March onwards.
“The number of unplaced children is a reminder of the need to ensure that there are enough permanent school places in the borough. Although it won’t provide places for children this year, the Diocese of Southwark’s proposal to establish a six-form entry secondary school in the borough in 2024 will be considered by the Council’s Children’s and Adults’ Care and Education Committee on 18th March.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the schools in the borough for their work over the past year in the fight against Coronavirus. They have created safe and supportive environments for children who are vulnerable or children whose parents are key workers. This has not been an easy time for schools and I know that there has been a huge amount of work that has gone into making sure that places are available for those who needed them.
“I would also like to thank the officers in Achieving for Children’s School Admissions Team, for whom the task of coordinating application and offers for Kingston residents as part of the Pan-London Coordinated Admissions Scheme has been more challenging this year than in any years since the scheme’s inception 15 years ago.”