Fewer pupils get first choice secondary school

The percentage of West Berkshire pupils offered a place at their preferred school is down on last year

FEWER pupils in West Berkshire have gained entry to their first choice secondary school in September than last year, new figures have shown.

Ninety per cent of the district's pupils were accepted at their first choice secondary school last year but that has decreased to 85 per cent this year, although this is still above the national average of 83 per cent.

Parents had to name their three favourite schools in order of preference, detailing their reasons for choosing those schools.

The number of children offered their first preference this year was 1460, with 195 getting into their second choice, 43 offered a place at their third choice and 60 offered a place at an alternative school.

In 2010 1,484 pupils were offered a place at their first choice school, 115 pupils offered their second choice, while a further 24 were offered a place at their third choice secondary school.

Kennet School in Thatcham remains the most popular West Berkshire school with 275 pupils offered a place as their first choice, while 244 pupils have been offered their first choice of a place at St Bartholomew's School, Newbury, and 234 have been offered a place as their first choice at Little Heath School, Tilehurst.

West Berkshire's executive councillor for education, Barbara Alexander (Con, Compton), said: “We realise that this is an important process for all the families involved and we make every effort to take account of the preferences that parents express. There are often a range of factors that influence the demand for children to go to one school or another.

She continued: “I am pleased that we were able to give 86.6 percent of families their first choice. As every council publishes their figures at the same time we cannot say yet how this compares but it is certainly above last year's national average of 83 per cent.”

West Berkshire compares favourably to London where the rejection rate is four-in-ten.

The list showing the council-run secondary schools in West Berkshire, and the number of pupils putting them as their first choice this year (according to the West Berkshire council website) is as follows:

Kennet School, Thatcham - 317 pupils

St Bartholomew's School, Newbury - 305 pupils

Little Heath School, Tilehurst - 269 pupils

The Downs school, Compton - 241 pupils

Theale Green Community School - 189 pupils

The Willink School, Burghfield Common - 148 pupils

Park House School, Newbury -129 pupils

Trinity School, Newbury - 124 pupils

Denefield School, Tilehurst - 118 pupils

John O'Gaunt Community Technology College, Hungerford - 68 pupils