A massive 92.4% of children will start at their first preference Secondary School in the new school year.
Monday 2 March 2026 is National Offer Day where Year Six children and their families learn which secondary school they will be attending in September 2026.
Over 3,200 school place offers have been made to pupils in Rotherham with an impressive 97.7% of pupils in Rotherham have been offered a place at one of their three preferred schools this year.
Councillor Victoria Cusworth, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services at Rotherham Council said: "Seeing so many of the borough’s children getting their first preferred place is absolutely amazing. The Council is committed to helping every child across the borough achieve their aspirations, and getting into their preferred school is one part of this journey.
“Our school place planners work hard to predict demand for individual schools and our excellent working relationship with school and academy leaders across the borough have helped to ensure we have the right school places available to children where they need them."
The Council in continuing to invest money to create more pupil places, which has allowed a consistent high number of children getting their preferred places in Secondary Schools.
Working with local schools, the Council aims to ensure places are keeping pace with demand in line with birth rates, new housing and other factors that might increase demand.
Pupils who were not offered one of their three preferences have been allocated either their catchment area school or the nearest school to their home. No schools in Rotherham have refused applications for children living in the catchment area.
Any parents or carers who were not successful in gaining a place in a preferred school have a right of appeal, via an independent appeal panel.
Further information about starting secondary school is available on the Council’s website.
