99.8% of children offered place at a preferred primary school

Families in Shropshire today (Tuesday 16 April 2024) find out whether their children have been offered a reception place at one of their preferred primary schools this September.

The figures for the Shropshire Council area for 2024 are:

Total number of applications: 2,572
Number allocated their 1st preference: 2,526 (98.2%)
Number allocated their 2nd preference: 37 (1.4%)
Number allocated their 3rd preference: 4 (0.2%)
Number allocated one of their preferred schools: 2,567 (99.8%)
Number allocated an alternative school: 5 (0.2%)

For comparison, the figures for 2023 were:

Total number of applications: 2,619
Number allocated their 1st preference: 2,504 (95.6%)
Number allocated their 2nd preference: 76 (2.9%)
Number allocated their 3rd preference: 12 (0.5%)
Number allocated one of their preferred schools: 2,592 (99%)
Number allocated an alternative school: 27 (1%)

Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said:

“We are really pleased that more than 98% of pupils will be going to their first preference primary school in 2024.

“Shropshire Council works hard to ensure that as many children as possible are able to attend their preferred school. Although it isn’t possible in every case, 99.8% of applicants will attend one of their top three preferred schools, and all applicants have been offered a place.

“Notably the percentage of on-time applicants who received their first preference is higher than it has been in any of the last ten years. Likewise, the percentage of pupils who received an offer of one of their preferred schools is higher than it has been over the last ten years, which is fantastic news.”