National Offer Day saw 87% of Year 6 pupils across the borough offered a place at one of their first three preferred secondary schools.

Families received letters from Richmond Council yesterday morning (March 1st) informing them of whether their children had received their desired places.

This year, parents and carers of 2,086 children applied for a secondary school place, compared with 2,173 last year.

National Offer Day 2023 saw an increase of Richmond students receiving an offer for their first choice at 68%, compared with 64% in 2022. 

Richmond Council confirmed there are currently 68 children without an offer of a secondary school place, a slight reduction of the 72 children at this time last year. 

For families whose children have not received a place, they are encouraged to contact Richmond Council for schools who still have places available. 

Cllr Penny Frost, Chair of the Council's Education and Children's Services Committee, said: "Our schools are deservedly popular owing to the fact that they offer excellent, inclusive education for local children. The number of unplaced children is a reminder of the need to ensure that there are enough permanent school places in the borough.

"The long-anticipated six-form entry secondary school in Mortlake, the Livingstone Academy, would, subject to planning permission, open later this decade and give greater long-term certainty for parents in the east of the borough. In the meantime, I am very grateful to schools for enabling additional places to be offered."

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Cllr Frost added: "I know that this will be an anxious time for those children and their families who are yet to receive an offer. Parents and carers are advised to read carefully the notes which explain what to do next. We know from experience that sufficient places will become available to be re-offered to those on the waiting lists from Thursday 30 March onwards."

Across London, 89% of pupils - 82,687 children - were offered a place at one of their top three preferences of secondary school. 

Almost 70% (69.78%) of children applying to London schools got into their first preference school, a slight decrease of 0.1% (0.17%) from last year, equivalent to 64,648 children.

Cllr Ian Edwards, London Councils Executive Member for Children and Young People, said: "It is vital that all children in London have access to a high-quality education. We want to ensure the best possible outcome for applicants to both mainstream schools and for pupils with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). 

"It is positive that once again the overwhelming majority of children have an offer from one of their preferred schools. Boroughs have worked diligently with schools to ensure there are sufficient places to meet the high demand for school places across the capital."