Today (16th April), nearly 99% of Somerset children starting school for the first time were offered a primary school place at one of their top three choices.

Overall, 98.86% of the 5136 applicants were offered a place at one of their top three choices, with 95.33% receiving their first choice.
Of the 5134 primary school applications received this year:

• 1st preference met – 95.33% (4,894 offers)
• 2nd preference met – 2.98% (153 offers)
• 3rd preference met – 0.55% (28 offers)

Anyone who applied for a place online will receive their offer by email today, Tuesday 16th April. Those who made an application by post will receive a letter with their offer this week.

Allocated schools will contact families to discuss the arrangements shortly.

Cllr Heather Shearer, Lead Member for Children, Families and Education at Somerset Council, said:

At Somerset Council, we are proud to be able to offer such a high percentage of parents and carers their preferred choice of primary school for another year running. We aim to provide the best possible education for all the young people in Somerset and will support these pupils through every stage of their education journey.”

Last year, 5,182 applications for primary school places were received. Of those, 98.94% of applicants received one of their top three preferences, with 94.54% receiving their first primary school preference.

Parents and carers of children not offered one or more of their three primary school preferences have various options available to them. Information can be found at the Council’s refused a place at your preferred school webpage.