Somerset families have received welcome news this week as new figures reveal that more than 99% of children starting primary school this September have been offered a place at one of their top three preferred schools.
Somerset Council confirmed that of the 4,938 applications received for the 2026/27 academic year, an impressive 99.43% secured a place at a preferred school — the highest proportion recorded in recent years.
The vast majority of pupils, 95.38% (4,710 children), were offered their first-choice school.
A breakdown of the offers shows:
- First preference met: 4,710 (95.38%)
- Second preference met: 162 (3.28%)
- Third preference met: 38 (0.77%)
Families who applied online will receive their offer by email today, while those who applied via paper forms will receive letters shortly. Primary schools will now begin contacting parents and carers to share next steps and help prepare children for starting school in September.
Cllr Heather Shearer, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Children, Families and Education, welcomed the strong results.
“Starting primary school is a really important moment for children and their families, so it is reassuring to see such positive outcomes again this year,” she says.
“These figures show that the vast majority of children in Somerset have been offered a place at a school preferred by their family, which reflects the careful planning and commitment of our schools and admissions team. I wish all children a happy and confident start as they begin this new chapter.”
Last year, 99.27% of applicants received one of their top three choices, with 95.67% securing their first preference — meaning this year’s figures show a slight improvement. Parents seeking further guidance can visit Somerset Council’s school admissions webpages for more information.
