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One in four children miss out on preferred secondary school

One in four children in Sandwell have failed to secure a place at their first choice secondary school.

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In Wolverhampton one in five missed out on their first choice of secondary school, while only 82 per cent of Dudley school children gained a place at theirs.

Figures showed 74 per cent of Sandwell pupils had been allocated a place at their preferred school this September – leaving around 1,000 youngsters disappointed.

A total of 425 pupils were instead offered a place at the school put down as their second choice, while 187 had to make do with their third favourite.

More than 350 children – 10 per cent – were not offered a place at any of their top three schools.

In Wolverhampton there was a one per cent increase in pupils gaining a place a their first choice, and of those missing out on first preference, 94 per cent were given one of their other choices.

Wolverhampton's education chief, Councillor Phil Page, said: "We want as many of our young people as possible to secure a place at one of their preferred schools. I am pleased the number of pupils who achieved a place at their first choice secondary school has increased this year.

"We have a lot of extremely popular schools in Wolverhampton and therefore there are always going to be parents and pupils disappointed because they haven't got a place at the school they wanted.

"We are, however, operating waiting lists over the coming months, while parents who are unhappy with the place allocated to their child can also appeal to an independent panel."

Parents across the country found out yesterday which schools their children would be going to on what was dubbed National Offer Day.

The number of children accepted at their first choice schools in Sandwell, Wolverhampton, and Dudley is below the national average of 85 per cent. Figures suggest more parents in cities and heavily populated areas were left disappointed.

Council bosses said the fact desired schools in the borough were oversubscribed was likely to be a reason for one in four missing out.

A spokesman said: "Parents can put down six schools in Sandwell, so the number who got either first, second or third is quite high.

"While one in four didn't get their first school, nearly 90 per cent got one of their top three.

"Some schools are heavily subscribed, which affects the outcome. We would also remind parents there is an appeals process."

Pupils offered a place at their preferred school in Dudley was slightly higher, but at 82 per cent still lower than the national average.

It was good news for students in Staffordshire, with 95 per cent gaining their first choice secondary school.

A total of 7,038 of the 7,409 10 and 11-year-olds who applied for a Year 7 place were offered their top selection, Staffordshire County Council said.

Across the county 98 per cent of pupils got a place at one of their top three selections.

Staffordshire County Council's learning and skills boss, councillor Ben Adams, said: "In Staffordshire we have an excellent track record of achieving well above the national average for first preferences, and for top three preferences as a whole."

The figure was higher than any of the Black Country authorities that have declared school places up to now.

There was also good news for parents in the Wyre Forest. Worcestershire County Council, which oversees schools in the district, said 93 per cent of pupils had secured a place at their secondary school of choice.

Walsall Council will not be releasing its figures until Friday.

A Department for Education spokesman said the Government wants to give every family the choice of a good local school.

"Since 2010 the Government has invested more than £5 billion to create more than 445,000 new school places – more than double the amount invested in the previous four years – and last year over 95 per of parents got one of their top three choices," he said.

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