99% of Cheshire East parents given preferred primary school place

Cheshire East Council has contacted thousands of families on national primary school offer day with almost all receiving their preferred school.

It is the council’s responsibility to ensure there are enough school places for the borough’s growing population. With more than 120 primary schools and nearly 4,000 applications, the council’s admissions team have been working hard to ensure that parents and carers receive primary school places for children due to start in September 2023.

93.6 per cent of Cheshire East families received their first choice (an increase from 92.5 per cent in 2022) with 98.9 per cent receiving a preference place (an increase from 98.3 per cent in 2022) as letters were distributed on national offer day (17 April).

Since 2019, the council has delivered an additional 343 primary school places, as part of an ongoing expansion programme across the borough. A further 250 primary places are planned over the next 18 months to two years. 

These schemes are being funded from a combination of capital from government grants and secured developer contributions.

Deborah Woodcock, executive director of children’s services at Cheshire East Council, said: “Primary school offer day is an important date in the calendar, as thousands of families anxiously wait to hear the outcome of their applications.

“Working together with our schools, we are committed to providing the best quality education and support for all our children and young people. We want all children to enjoy going to school and achieve the life skills and qualifications they need to thrive. 

“We know that Cheshire East is a great place to learn, and I’d like to thank the commitment and dedication of our education teams and all the school staff involved in nurturing, supporting and enabling children and young people to thrive.

“I wish all the new reception classes the very best start in September - that they enjoy learning and embrace the many new and exciting opportunities that schools in Cheshire East provide.”

For the very small proportion of parents who have not received a place at their first preference school, they can go on the waiting list for another school(s) and/or have the right to submit an appeal. Parents are advised to accept their child’s offer even if they would prefer a different school, until they have confirmed alternative arrangements for their child’s education.

Any parents who submitted a late application for a school place will be informed after 3 May and more information on late applications can be found here: 

late school application pages on the council’s website.

More information and advice can be found at: 

www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions 

...or on the website of the preferred school. 

Parents are also encouraged to follow the council’s Family Information Service on social media for tips and advice.