More than 1,000 children across the Island have been offered places at secondary schools today (Tuesday).
Today is National Offer Day when children up and down the country learn which secondary school they will attend for the 2022/23 academic year.
On the Island, nearly 95% of parents have been offered a place for their child at one of their preferred schools. This compares to 91% in 2021.
In total, the Isle of Wight Council received 1,167 applications on time. Of those, 1,013 (83%) received their first choice for September 2022, 127 (10%) their second choice and 27 (2%) their third choice. Last year, 984 parents were allocated their first preference school for their child.
Those who applied to Carisbrooke College as a first choice have been hit the hardest, with just 56.32% of applicants allocated.
Every on-time applicant was offered a place at a school. There are some families who applied late and their school offer will be sent shortly.
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.
Article continues below this advertisement “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 19th April 2022.
