Majority of children get preferred school place in Plymouth

Thousands of pupils in Plymouth have been told which secondary school they will be going to this September.

Plymouth City Council confirmed that 94.58 per cent of young people received their first choice of Plymouth secondary school, 4.01 per cent their second and 1.12 per cent their third. Less than one per cent did not receive any of the schools they listed as a preference.

Letters confirming school places for September 2014 were posted yesterday (Monday). Emails have been issued to parents who filled out an on-line preference application form simply saying which school their child will be attending. Only in the letters are the full details given.

Over 2,357 young people submitted applications for a secondary school this year. That compares with 2,389 last year, when the Council was able to match 95.36 per cent with their first choice of secondary school.

Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “We’re extremely pleased that the overwhelming majority of young people got their first choice of secondary school this year. We are determined as a Council to ensure that the quality of schools throughout the city is such that no matter where a child lives, they will have access to an excellent school not far from home. Our aim is to help develop a highly skilled and capable workforce of productive young adults who contribute to the region’s economic growth and prosperity and who enjoy and achieve in life.”

Schools have been given the admissions information relating to their children so parents are also able to ask teachers directly for confirmation of their child’s secondary school place.

From September this year parents with children in Year 6 at primary schools will be asked to list their preferences ready for the September 2015 school year. Each school now has its own admission criteria, as traditional catchment areas no longer exist.

Any parent who wishes their child to be considered for a grammar school place in September 2015 will need to register for the 11+ examination between 22 April 2014 and 5 September 2014. Full details are available on the Council’s website at www.plymouth.gov.uk/schooladmissions.

For more information call the Council’s school admissions team on 01752 307469.