Vast majority of families offered their preferred secondary school

More than 80% of families applying for a secondary school place in Brighton & Hove for this September have been offered their preferred school.

 

The breakdown of first, second and third preferences is as follows: 

The number of first preferences offered has increased since last year. But because of a significant increase in the total number of applications this year – 2,709, compared with 2,573 last year – the percentage of first preferences has dropped slightly.

Unfortunately the council has been unable to offer catchment area places to 62 children living in the Dorothy Stringer and Varndean catchment area. These families have been offered a place at the nearest schools with spaces available, in line with the council’s agreed school admissions policy. 

 

All the city’s secondary school places for September have been filled, except for a small number at Longhill and the Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA).

 

Councillor Hannah Clare is Chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Children, Young People and Skills Committee. She said: 

 

“I’m pleased that even with more than 100 extra pupils compared to last year we’ve still been able to offer more than 80% of parents their preferred school. This compares very favourably with similar urban areas.

“At the same time I know that a number of pupils have missed out on their preferred choice of school, and that for them and their families this will be disappointing and stressful.

“In previous years there have been instances where both Dorothy Stringer and Varndean have admitted extra pupils to help out.

 

“But these schools are already very big and have real pressures on space. We recognise that taking even more children in would be very difficult for them.

 

“A group of councillors from all the council’s three political parties has discussed this at length, as we know how upsetting not getting your preferred school will be. We have agreed unanimously to offer these families places at other schools in line with our agreed school admissions policy. 

 

“I would like to reassure the families affected that all of our city’s schools are rated good by Ofsted. So they will receive a high-quality education whichever school they attend.

 

“As we have seen from reductions in primary school places, the number of children in our secondary schools are forecast to drop in the coming years. We will be working on a strategy going forward to address this challenge – and seeking your thoughts on how we fairly allocate places in our city’s schools.”

 

If parents are unhappy with the school place they’ve been offered, they can appeal a school place decision.

The deadline for submitting an appeal is Monday 29 March.

The council recommends that parents should still accept the place their child has been offered. This will not affect their appeal, and will guarantee their child has a school place if your appeal is unsuccessful.

Appeal panels are independent of the council. The council has a legal duty to put into effect whatever decisions appeals panels make.

The council's school admissions team can be contacted for advice via email at schooladmissions@brighton-hove.gov.uk .