3 March 2015 weekly update

Secondary School Offers

More than 12,000 children have got into their preferred Secondary school for September. This year more children than ever applied for a place in a Kent Secondary school, with 18,193 applications received.

Despite the increase in numbers we are pleased that 81% of children will get their first choice of Secondary school for September, 91% their first or second choice of school and  96% will receive an offer from one of their four choices. This means 12,796 families will receive their first choice and 1,612 their second.

We have seen a significant increase in the number of children from outside Kent applying for a Kent Secondary school place, which is a credit to schools and their growing popularity. However it makes meeting parental preferences ever more challenging.  Out of the 18,193 applications received, 2,299 were from parents who do not live in Kent, and about a third of this number secured an offer of a Kent school.

A number of parents will be disappointed not to get one of their preferred schools.  However as we know this is the first stage of the school allocation process and our Admissions Team is on hand to help with any queries they may have. There will be considerable movement through waiting lists and the appeals process between now and September. 

While there remains a surplus of Secondary school places across Kent, to avoid placing children in schools considerable distances from home, this year we have worked closely with admissions colleagues in neighbouring local authorities to make some allocations to schools over the border where this results in a more accessible school option.

School Survey

I attach a brief survey which I hope you can take a few minutes to complete and send back to us.

During the past two to three years we have worked hard to improve what the local authority does and its partnership with schools.  We have re-organised our services, developed what we think are clear strategies for improvement and devolved more resources to localities to support vulnerable learners, for example through the LIFT process, our SEND changes, the PRU review and the development of Early Help services into district teams.  We have also committed to supporting school collaboration and allocated funding through the KAH area boards.  We hope these are making a positive difference.

However we will be more effective and achieve more improvement if you tell us what we need to do better. So I hope very much that you will complete the survey.  We have deliberately left it anonymous but if you care to name your school in one of the comment boxes that would be helpful.

Thank you.

Patrick Leeson

Corporate Director, Education and Young People's Services