Secondary School Admissions - hundreds of children miss out

More children than in previous years have secured their first choice secondary school in Wiltshire, but nearly 300 are still not getting into any of their school preferences.

Around 4,400 children applied to start secondary school this September - and 93.5% were offered their first choice school, compared to 91% last year.
Offer letters were sent out by Wiltshire Council on March 1 to all Wiltshire residents who applied before the deadline, which was noon October 31 2011.
Every applicant could name up to three preferences. About 40 children were not offered any of their preferred schools.

More than half of all applications were completed online.
Secondary admissions are co-ordinated across county boundaries. Wiltshire's admissions team therefore deals with applications not only for all Wiltshire secondary schools (including the two grammar schools in Salisbury), but also with applications from Wiltshire residents to attend schools outside the county. Around 300 Wiltshire residents will be offered schools outside the county and about 150 children will come into Wiltshire schools from other areas.
Applicants have until Friday March 16 to accept the offer. After this, applications received after the October deadline and up to March 1 2012 will be considered. There are approximately 200 late applications awaiting consideration.
The right to an independent appeal is open to anyone who is not happy with the school they have been offered, or has been refused a place at one of their preferred schools. Details of how to appeal can be obtained by phoning the council on 01225 713010.
Debbie Clare, admissions co-ordinator, said: "I am pleased we have handled so many applications on time and such a high proportion of children are being offered their first choice school. My team has worked extremely hard since November to ensure we have effectively handled all applications."