The allocation of Isle of Wight primary school places has been announced today (Wednesday), with hundreds of children across the Island finding out which primary school they’ll be attending from September.
This year 97.6% of Island parents will have gained a school of choice for their child, but just 91.5% of applications achieved a place at their first-choice school – compared to 96.9% last year.
There have been 26 fewer applications for the 2025 academic year.
Every child for which an application was submitted to the council received a school place.
Fact File
- The number of applications in 2025 — 998 (1,024 last year).
- The percentage of applications achieving 1st choice — 91.5% (96.9% last year).
- The percentage achieving 2nd choice — 5.11% (2.3%).
- The percentage achieving 3rd choice — 1% (0.1% last year).
The figures above include all applications that were received on time and those children with an Education and Health Care Plan, but not those who applied late.
Ashley Whittaker, Strategic Director of Children’s Services, has said:
“We are pleased the majority of children have gained a place at one of their preferred schools, with most getting their first choice and all children being offered a place.’
“Those children starting their primary education will be embarking on a new journey and as they settle-in and make new friends, it will be an exciting time as we develop and improve education across the Island.”
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