9 in 10 get first-choice school

ALMOST nine in 10 Oldham children will attend their first-choice secondary school in September.

And demand for the town’s three academies has increased.

A total of 2,817 children applied for places in Oldham’s secondary schools, which includes youngsters from outside the borough.

The percentage getting into their first-choice school was 88 per cent — an identical figure to last year’s rate when there were slightly less applications at 2,741.

This year, 96 per cent were offered one of their top three choices and one per cent got a place at their fourth placed choice or below.

Only four per cent did not get a place at any of their preferred schools and there have been at least 100 late applications.

Oldham’s three academies are due to move into multi-million pound building in September and 2013.

The number of people who picked them as one of their first three choices rose from 174 to 213 at Waterhead Academy, 115 to 146 at Oldham Academy North and 116 to 220 for Oasis Academy Oldham.

Oldham Academy North has filled all its 165 places for September. Waterhead and Oasis respectively have filled 259 and 234 of their 300 places so far.

Letters were sent out to parents in Oldham telling them if they had been successful in getting their children into their preferred schools on what has become known as National Offer Day.

Parents applying on behalf of children who start Year 7 in September must rank schools in order of preference.

Oldham’s figures were in line with the average for Greater Manchester with Salford top for sending the most pupils to their first- choice school at 97 per cent.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “Parents in the most deprived areas of the country are often left to choose between weak schools, and this is no choice at all. Our school reforms will raise standards and create more good schools.”