Most students in county offered preferred school places

Most pupils across Kent and Medway have been offered their first-choice secondary school for September, a council said.

In Kent, of the 18,636 parents and carers who applied for their child, 17,941 received an offer from one of their four preferred schools.

In Medway, 96% of the 3,586 children were offered a place at one of their preferred schools.

Beverley Fordham, Kent County Council (KCC) cabinet member for education and skills, said the authority had been working hard to ensure school places met the needs of local communities.

Parents across the country have found out by email and letter which school place their children have been allocated after applying before the end of last October.

A total of 79% of children in Kent have been offered their first-preference schools this year.

Nationally, about 83% of applications were offered their first-choice school in 2025.

Fordham said: "Where it has not been possible to match pupils with one of their preferred schools, please be assured that today is only the first stage of our comprehensive school place allocation process and further offers will be made over the coming weeks."

Children will automatically be enrolled on the waiting lists of higher preference schools they are eligible for by KCC.

Families can also request to join the waiting list of any school of any lower preference they were not offered by 16 March, or appeal directly to the admissions authority of any school that could not offer their child a place.

Appeals must be lodged by 30 March and KCC will hold a second round of offers on 23 April for any spaces that become available.

A total of 4,536 children applied in Medway, including 950 children from outside area.

Adam Price, Medway Council's portfolio holder for children's services, said: "This is a truly memorable point in every child's life – full of anticipation and perhaps a few nerves.

"I want to reassure families that this new chapter brings countless opportunities to learn and grow."

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