02 Mar 2023
Secondary school offers made
More than 1,000 children across the Island have been offered places at secondary schools this week.
Yesterday (Wednesday) was National Offer Day when children up and down the country learnt which secondary school they would attend for the 2023/24 academic year.
On the Island, nearly 94 per cent of parents have been offered a place for their child at one of their preferred schools. This compares to 95 per cent in 2022.
In total, the Isle of Wight Council received 1,287 applications on time. Of those, 1,035 (80 per cent) received their first choice for September 2023, 140 (11 per cent) their second choice and 33 (three per cent) their third choice.
This compares to 83 per cent, ten per cent and two per cent, respectively, in 2022.
Every on-time applicant was offered a place at a school. There are some families who applied late and are not included in the figures.
Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children's services, education and skills, said: "I'm really pleased to see that the vast majority of applicants gained a place at one of their preferred schools, with most getting their first choice and all students being offered a place.
"We do all we can to make the application process as straightforward as possible in partnership with our Island schools, while meeting families' choices in the vast majority of cases.
“I appreciate how difficult the transition can be from primary to secondary and how important pupil choice is in both maintaining existing friendships and local, community connections.”
Parents who have applied for a primary school place for their child will be notified on 17 April 2023.
Factfile
- Nearly 94 per cent of parents have been offered a place for their child at one of their preferred schools. This compares to 95 per cent in 2022.