Ninety-three per cent of Reading students have been offered a place in one of their preferred secondary schools this year.
Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) has ensured that every secondary school pupil in Reading has a place for September despite fierce competition.
The percentage who received their first or second preference is 84% compared with 85% last year and 90% were offered their first, second or third choice compared with 91% last year.
There was a decrease in the percentage of pupils offered their first preference from 73% to 67%. This was mainly due to grammar school admissions tests being postponed because of the pandemic and the results not being published until after the normal deadline for submitting secondary school applications.
The percentage of students not allocated any of their preferences remained at seven per cent.
Prof Dr Kate Reynolds, Director of Education at BFfC, said: “We have been working closely with secondary schools in Reading to ensure every student has a place on National Offer Day and a high percentage will be going to one of their preferred schools.
“We continue to work with Reading Borough Council, academy trusts, neighbouring authorities and the Department for Education to provide more school places to meet demand in the coming years, including the new River Academy secondary school in Reading.
“I would like to thank our secondary schools for helping us to accommodate all Reading students this year and I wish every pupil all the very best in their new school.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Reading’s wonderful schools for the amazing work they have done for their pupils and students under such challenging circumstances throughout the pandemic.”
The percentage of pupils allocated to school outside Reading was 28% this year compared with 29% last year.