Majority across South West offered top-three primary school choice

It's National Primary School Offer Day!

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 16th Apr 2025
Last updated 16th Apr 2025

It's National Primary School Offer Day - with thousands of parents across our region opening their emails today to finally find out where their youngsters will be heading in September.

Across the South West, local authorities tell us the vast majority of children beginning their school journey have been offered at least their third choice - with more than 90 per cent going to their first preference.

Anyone who applied for a place online will receive their offer via email today (16 April), whilst those who made an application by post will receive a letter with their offer details shortly.

Allocated schools will be in contact with families to discuss arrangements in the coming days ahead.

Up and down the country, In 2024, 93.2% of families received an offer from their first choice of primary school and 98.6% received an offer from one of their top three choices.

The picture across the South West

Bath & North East Somerset

More than 99% of families with three and four-year olds in Bath and North East Somerset have been offered one of their overall preferences for a primary school place for the fourth year running.

The total number of applications received from Bath and North East Somerset residents for the 2025/26 Reception year was 1,686 compared to 1,646 for 2024/25.

Of them, 1,611 received an offer for their first preference school, 52 pupils were offered their second preference and eight pupils offered their third preference.

Fifteen pupils weren’t offered a place at any of their preferences and were offered a place at their next nearest school with a place available. These are known as referrals.

Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “Starting school for the first time is a big milestone for every child and their family. Everyone wants to find a school where their child can be happy, safe and reach their full potential, so it’s excellent news that more than 95% of families have once again been offered their first preference.”

Cornwall

Cornwall Council received 4,864 applications for reception places for September 2025, of which 4,658 have been offered a place at their first preference school.

This equates to 95.76%, which is slightly lower than last year’s figure of 97.62% and above last year’s national average of 93.2%. (The national figure for 2025 is not yet available.)

Almost every child (99.28%) in Cornwall received a place at their first, second or third preference school this year, compared to 99.83% last year.

Eveleen Riordan, Service Director for Education and Children’s Community Health at Cornwall Council, said: “It’s brilliant that so many children and families have been offered their first preference primary school for this September.

“We have consistently offered a higher-than-average number of children their first preference school and this is all down to the hard work of our teams who work closely with schools across Cornwall. I would like to thank everyone who played a part this year.

"We do recognise that some families may be disappointed by the allocation for their child and there is an independent appeals process that can be followed. More information on this can be found on the school appeals page on the council’s website.”

Dorset

Families in Dorset are finding out which schools their young children will join in September, with the majority getting their choice.

Almost 95 per cent of applicants have been offered their first choice of primary school (for reception), and over 98 per cent have been offered their middle school of choice.

Councillor Clare Sutton, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills, said: "We know how important school choice is for families, and I am delighted that most families in the Dorset Council area have successfully secured their first-choice primary school.

“As these very young students get ready to start their educational journey this September, I wish them all the best for a successful and fulfilling experience."

Herefordshire

Herefordshire Council has made 1573 offers of places in primary schools across the county with the following parental preference success rates:

  • First preference: 1520 offers, which is 96.6% of the total offers
  • Second preference: 42 offers, which is 2.7% of the total offers with a cumulative success rate of 99.3%
  • Third preference: 5 offers, which is 0.3% of the total offers with a cumulative success rate of 99.6%

The balance of places offered, which is 6 (or 0.4%) were to parents whose preferences could not be met and their offer was for the nearest school to their home address with available spaces.

Last year, 97.1% of parents received their first school preference and 99.5% received a place in one of their three preferences.

North Somerset

In North Somerset, the local authority received 2,120 applications for Reception places for the 2025/26 school year.

Figures released today show that 99.43 per cent of families were offered a place at one of their top three preferred schools, with over 96 per cent securing their first choice.

  • First preference met – 96.65 per cent
  • Second preference – 2.36 per cent
  • Third preference – 0.42 per cent

Only 12 children were not offered a place at one of their three preferences.

This is usually the case when parents or carers don’t use all three preferences or don’t include their local school.

However, everyone who included their local school was offered a place.

Somerset

In Somerset, the Council say more than 99% of Somerset children starting school for the first time were offered a primary school place at one of their top three choices.

Of the 5086 primary school applications received:

  • 1st preference met – 95.67% (4866 offers)
  • 2nd preference met – 3.07% (156 offers)
  • 3rd preference  met – 0.53%  (27 offers)

Cllr Heather Shearer, Lead Member for Children, Families and Education at Somerset Council, said: “I’m delighted to hear that once again so many of our parents and carers have secured a place for their child at their chosen primary school this year.

“All of our children deserve the best education that we can give them, and today they will know where the next stage of their journey through learning will start.

“I wish them every joy and success.”

Last year 5134 applicants were offered a place at one of their top three choices (98.86%). And some 4894 (95.33%) received their first primary school preference.

Swindon

Swindon Borough Council's Schools Admissions team received 2,494 on-time applications for primary school places for the forthcoming academic year and 96.6 per cent received a place at their preferred school.

99.7 per cent were offered a place in one of their preferences.

Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “It is great news that we have been able to offer so many children a place at their number one choice of primary school for this coming September.

“A lot of work goes on behind the scenes by our Admissions team to ensure we have enough places at our schools and then they have the job of processing all the on-time applications to match children up with one of their three choices.

“I’d like to say a big thanks to all the team for their efforts and to pass on my best wishes to all our Reception children and their parents as they look forward to starting their school journey.”

Wiltshire

In Wiltshire, 99% of new pupils will have a place at one of their preferred schools, with 95.6% offered a place at their first preference school.

This year, 99% of Wiltshire parents applied for school places online; this accounts for 4,749 of the total 4,795 applications received.

Kathryn Davis, Director Education and Skills, said: “This is a very important day for parents and carers, as once they have the confirmation of which school their child will attend, they can begin to plan for September.

"We know this is an important step in every child’s life and we wish our families all the best as they make those preparations. We are here to provide support where needed.”

Worcestershire

Over 98% of the county’s youngest school pupils received an offer from one of their top three choices, with nearly 94% of pupils heading to their first choice of primary or first school to start this important education journey.

This year, Worcestershire County Council received 5,693 primary school applications, and 2,397 middle school applications.

Everyone who made an application for a primary school, first school or middle school place has received an offer.

Sarah Wilkins, Assistant Director for Education at Worcestershire County Council, said: “We know that starting school is a big step for both children and their families, and it's wonderful to see so many receiving a place at one of their preferred schools.

"Our team works hard to make this process as smooth as possible, and we’re delighted to be helping so many young children begin their exciting journey in education.”

Support

Parents and carers of children not offered one or more of their three primary school preferences have various options available, and can use the appeals process - which is through your local authority's website.

There is an 'Everything You Need To Know' guide on the GOV.UK website.

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