Kent School Places: More Pupils Get Their First Choice in 2022
Kent parents faced a whirlwind as 21,889 applied for secondary school places in September 2022. That’s 375 fewer than last year, but the number of Kent pupils actually rose by 38.
Big Boost in First-Preference Offers
Good news for families — 79.59% of pupils (14,574) got a place at their first-choice school, up sharply from 69.7% in 2021. Shellina Prendergast, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, praised the effort of teachers and support staff during a tough year.
“I would like to pay tribute to all the teachers and support staff for the effort they have put in to educating our children in very difficult circumstances… I am delighted to say that more than 95% of pupils will be starting school in September at one of the preferred schools their families selected.” – Shellina Prendergast
What About Those Who Miss Out?
Despite the improvements, 850 pupils (4.64%) were allocated places by the council, not through their preferred choices — a slight rise from last year. Families who didn’t get their top picks are urged to contact the schools offered before making decisions. Those applicants can also join waiting lists until March 15 and appeal by March 26.
Important Dates and Tips for Parents
- Parents who applied online should check their emails from 4pm on Tuesday, March 1, with offers accessible from 5pm.
- Paper application households will receive their offers via First Class post the same day.
- Second round of offers will be sent on Wednesday, April 21 for any new vacancies.
- Only children assessed suitable for grammar schools can apply for grammar school waiting lists after April 21.
Mrs Prendergast added: “KCC staff are on hand to provide advice and support throughout this process. I urge concerned parents to get in touch.”
Online Applications Up, But Some Still Miss Out
Almost all parents now apply online (98.66%), helping the environment. However, some parents make it tough for council staff to allocate places — only 0.59% named all eligible schools, and 7.69% didn’t select any suitable choices. This makes it harder to place children in local schools, which often are already full.
2022 vs 2021 Kent Pupils Offer Breakdown
Kent Pupils 2022 2021 No of Pupils % No of Pupils % Offered First Preference 14,574 79.59% 12,736 69.70% Offered Second Preference 2,089 11.41% 2,577 14.1% Offered Third Preference 604 3.30% 1,247 6.82% Offered Fourth Preference 194 1.06% 561 3.07% Allocated by Local Authority 850 4.64% 845 4.62% Total Kent Pupils Offered 18,311 100% 18,273 100%
Need Help?
- Email [email protected] for admission advice.
- Find waiting list and appeal info at kent.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions.
