Record applications for secondary school places

Applications for places at Surrey secondary schools next September have reached a new high.

Surrey County Council received 11,392 secondary school applications by the 31 October closing date* – 260 more than last year.

The number of applications has risen steadily in recent years, with 1,343 more applying this year than in 2012.

The increase in applications in just four years adds up to enough pupils to fill a large new secondary school.

Linda Kemeny, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Educational Achievement, said: “The sharp rise in demand for school places we’ve seen at primary level is translating into increased demand at the secondary stage as these application figures show.

“We know we need to find an extra 11,000 primary and secondary school places over the next five years but face a £35million funding shortfall to meet this unprecedented demand at a time when our budgets are also under strain from rising numbers needing adult social care.”

The figures show that applications this year were up two per cent on last year’s 11,132 and up 13 per cent on the number received in 2012 – 10,049.

* The final figure may change to take account of, for example, people submitting both paper and online applications.