Cambridgeshire County Council says 87.9 per cent of the county’s students will be going to their first choice secondary school this September.  

The figure is up from 87.1 per cent last year. 

Year 6 pupils across the country find out today (March 1) where they will be attending secondary school.   

In Peterborough, the city council says 83.9 per cent of pupils have received a place at their first preference school.   

Both councils also analysed the proportion being offered a place at their first, second or third preference school.  

For Peterborough, this figure was 96.6 per cent and Cambridgeshire County Council’s was 95.8 per cent. 

Peterborough City Council says there has been a reduction in the proportion of pupils offered a place at one of their preferred secondary schools this year. 

This is because of the “unprecedented numbers” of Year 6 children arriving in Peterborough within the current academic year.  

To date, the council says its admissions team received 178 applications for children new to the city in Year 6 for 2023/24.  

Cllr Ray Bisby, is Peterborough City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: “However over 96.5 per cent of pupils have been offered one of their three preferences which is still an excellent outcome.” 

Cambridgeshire County Council said for its allocation, the total number of places offered this year was fewer than last – 7,220 compared with 7,413.  

A council spokesperson explained there could be several reasons for this, such as students choosing schools outside the county, private schools or home schooling.   

It could also be that there are generally less students in this year's cohort.   

Cllr Bryony Goodliffe, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee said: “I am delighted that the vast majority will attend one of their top three choices, which will ensure the transition from primary to secondary school will be as seamless as possible.”