Outcomes for secondary school preferences have improved for Cambridgeshire families this year, with a higher proportion of pupils receiving one of their top three choices for September 2026.
This year, 96.7% of pupils were offered one of their first, second or third preference schools, a slight increase from 96.5% in 2025. The number of pupils who did not receive any of their top three preferences has also reduced, falling from 3.5% in 2025 to 3.3% in 2026.
The total number of applications went down, with 7,141 applications received in 2025, and 7,050 applications received in 2026 – a reduction of 91 applications year-on-year.
Councillor Edna Murphy, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee said: “I’m really pleased to see that even more families have secured one of their top three choices schools this year.
“Our admissions and place planning teams work incredibly hard to make sure every child is supported through this important transition, and these improved outcomes show their dedication is making a real difference.
“Ensuring that as many pupils as possible can attend a school that suits their needs helps lay the groundwork for a confident and successful start to secondary education.”
