Secondary school admissions 2023: how many Birmingham pupils have been offered their 1st preference?
Pupils will today find out which secondary school they will attend in September 2023
Secondary school admission day, otherwise known as national offer day, is an important time for many parents as they find out what school their children will be attending in the next academic year.
The jump from primary school to secondary school is a crucial time in any child’s education journey as they develop into a teenager and prepare to sit their GCSEs. Parents typically receive a letter from their local council to inform them whether their children have been accepted to their first choice secondary school.
Secondary school admission day takes place today (Wednesday 1 March) - on the same day that teachers across schools in Birmingham and the West Midlands are striking for better pay.
Parents will be informed that they must accept the offer by the deadline given in the offer letter.
Otherwise the offer may be withdrawn and the place could be assigned to someone else. Your local council must provide a place at another school, if your child is not offered a spot in any of the schools that you have applied for.
How many pupils in Birmingham got offered their first preference?
This year, 71% of pupils in Birmingham have been offered their first preference and over 95% have been offered one of their preferences - one of their preferences mean they were offered one of their top six choices.
Birmingham City Council figures show that 15,107 Birmingham pupils applied to transfer to secondary school down from 15,214 in 2022.
10,828 pupils (71%) were offered their first choice preference and 1,981 (13.11%) were offered their second choice, with 805 (5.33%) offered their first choice. Overall, 14,449 applicants were offered one of their chosen preferences (this is between their first and sixth choice).
How to appeal a school’s decision
If your child is refused a place at your preferred school of choice then it is possible to appeal the decision. You must appeal each rejection separately.
The admission authority for the school must give parents at least 20 school days to appeal the decision after they have received the letter. Appeal timelines will be published for your choice of school by 28 February every year.
Here’s what you need to know
The government website states that parents will be sent a letter with the decision about their child’s school and if their child is refused a place, they can appeal against the decision.
You must appeal against each rejection separately and you can only appeal once against each rejection.
Preparing your appeal
Parents have 20 days to appeal from when the admission authority sends the decision letter.
The admission authority will set a deadline for submitting information and evidence to support your appeal but if anything is submitted after the deadline, it might not be considered and may result in delays to your hearing.
When the hearing will be
The admission authority must give you at least 10 school days’ notice of the hearing.
Appeals must be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for making an appeal.