By Isle of Wight Observer
More than 1,000 children across the Island have been offered places at secondary schools this week.
Monday marked National Offer Day, when youngsters up and down the country learn which secondary school they will attend for the 2026/27 academic year.
On the Island, 94.2 per cent of parents have been offered a place for their child at one of their preferred schools – a small fall from 96 per cent in 2025.
In total, the IW Council received 1,220 applications on time. Of those, 1,018 (83.4 per cent) received their first choice for September 2026, 115 (9.4 per cent) their second choice and 17 (1.3 per cent) their third choice.
Every on-time applicant was offered a place at a school. There are some families who applied late or did not make an application and are not included in the figures.
Cllr Paul Brading, who chairs the council’s children’s services, education and skills committee, said: “Our teams work closely with Island schools to make the application and transition process as smooth and supportive as possible.
“Moving up to secondary school is a major milestone, and we remain committed to helping pupils and families feel confident and well‑prepared for this next step.”
Parents who have applied for a primary school place for their child will be notified on April 16.
