Seven in ten families get first preference school place

· by · in Children, Children, Schools and Families, Education and schools, Young people. ·

Merton Council has been able to offer nearly 70% of schoolchildren a place at their first preference secondary school – an increase of more than 5% on previous years.

The majority of families have selected a Merton school as the one they most wanted their child to attend, reflecting a high confidence in the borough’s secondary schools, all of which are rated ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

Every Merton family that applied for a secondary place, starting in September 2022, has received an offer of a school place. Almost nine in ten (89%) Merton children have been offered a place in one of their top three preferred secondary schools, with almost 95% receiving a place at one of their six preferences.

Merton’s Cabinet Member for Schools and Adult Education, Councillor Eleanor Stringer said: “I’m delighted that Merton Council has been able to offer all our children a school place, and especially so that almost seven out of ten students have received an offer for their first preference school.

“The fact that so many families have named one of Merton’s secondary schools as their first preference is a resounding vote of confidence from parents in the excellent work that our schools are doing.

“Merton is a great place for families and a key reason for this is the first-class learning opportunities that we have in the borough. We are hugely proud of the dedicated effort that everyone at our secondary schools puts in to ensure all pupils achieve their potential and have a great start in life.

“I’d especially like to highlight the work done during the last three school years during the pandemic, when teachers and staff went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure as much continuity as possible in our children’s education.

“I hope that this autumn’s cohort of new secondary school pupils are able to enjoy as normal a start to the next phase of their educational journey as possible.”

Parents are reminded that they should respond to their offer by 15 March and that our school admissions website gives further details to parents in different circumstances on what to do next.