A TOTAL of 6392 Gloucestershire children who applied on time will be offered a secondary school place for September this year, with 97 per cent of pupils receiving a place at one of their preferred schools.

On Monday 2nd March, parents of pupils going to secondary school in September 2020 will receive a place from Gloucestershire County Council.

All parents in the county will be offered one school place for their child on the same day.

Parents will have until 9th March to accept their school place or request an alternative school.

Those who applied online will receive an email confirming their school place after 9am on 2nd March and will be able to accept their place online.

As well as 97 per cent of young people being offered one of their preferences, 87 per cent have been offered their first choice of school.

Those parents/carers who did not apply online should receive a letter on Monday 2nd March, including the place on offer and the reasons why.

This letter will be specific to each pupil and will contain an explanation for the decision made.

More information is available at gloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions

Parents are encouraged to accept their place online or return their reply forms as soon as possible.

Parents unhappy with their initial offer are encouraged to keep their place as this will ensure that, whatever the outcome of the reconsideration, their child will have a place at a school in September.

The county council will write to parents with the result of the reconsideration after 30th March, and parents will have until the 3rd April to reply.

Parents who are still not satisfied with their given school will be advised of the appeals procedure.

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, cabinet member for economy, education and skills, said: “It’s great to see that most young people will be offered a place at one of their preferred schools, with a high number receiving their first choice.

"We wish them all well as they take their next step into secondary school this September.”

The admission criteria and more information about waiting lists for every school is also available at gloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions