Pupils around the county have found out which secondary schools they have been offered a place in ahead of September with more than 96% receiving an offer from one of their four preferred schools, says Kent County Council.
A total of 21,767 parents and carers applied for a place for their child in a Kent school for September 2025.
The percentage number of Kent pupils offered a place at their first-preference school has gone up to 80.59% from last year’s 78.62%.
The number of those offered their second, third or fourth preference has decreased slightly due to this.
Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Rory Love said: “I am pleased to see 2.5% more children have been offered their first-preference schools this year, and that 96% will be going to one of their preferred schools in September.
“As always, I pay tribute to our dedicated officers in the KCC admissions team who have been working tirelessly to make sure we offer school places to nearly 22,000 pupils.
“Where it has not been possible to match pupils with one of their preferred schools, I would like to assure families that today marks the first stage within our comprehensive school place allocation process.
“Pupils and families can now focus on making the most of their final year of primary school and begin preparing for the move to secondary school.”
Every year a number of children cannot be offered a place in one of their preferred schools. In most cases, this is where the parents had not used all four preferences. That number has decreased again this year to 646 pupils; this is 3.66% of the total cohort.
KCC will support these families by allocating them a place at an alternative school.
This year, parents will automatically be enrolled on waiting lists they are eligible for in a bid to gain a spot at one of their higher preferences. Emails sent to parents will explain this in more detail.
Families can also request to join the waiting list of any school of any lower preference they were not offered by Monday 17 March.
Parents and carers can also appeal directly to the admissions authority of any school that could not offer their child a place.
Appeals must be lodged by Monday 31 March.
KCC will hold a second round of offers on Thursday 24 April for any spaces that become available.
For queries email [email protected] quoting your child’s Pupil ID, this can be found in your offer email.
Lots of children not been given their choices!
” …more than 96% receiving an offer from one of their four preferred schools, …”
Apart from some children in Thanet I believe, who are being denied a place at a grammar school, despite having passed the selection test, because of their distance from either of the two grammar schools. They now have to appeal, alongside other pupils who haven’t necessarily achieved the requirements. If the results of this selection process are being disregarded, then I see no point whatsoever in continuing with this system, which puts stress on pupils and parents. Either build more schools or scrap the test. The situation is only going to get worse with the huge expansion of housing in the area.