Parents of Cheshire East school children received confirmation of the allocation of secondary school places for September 2025 earlier this month.
Cheshire East Council worked with local schools to offer 95 percent of Cheshire East residents their preferred school this year (an increase from 94 percent last year and 90.5 percent in 2022) with around 98 per cent receiving an offer from their three preferences.
Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information Request show that Wilmslow High School had 360 places to allocate for the academic year beginning September 2025, but the total number of applications for places at the school was 590, down from 631 last year. (This includes 31 which were 4th, 5th and 6th preferences from other LA residents where the LA allows a higher number of preferences)
Of the 430 students who requested Wilmslow High School as their first choice, 82 (19%) did not receive a place to start in September 2025.
Of those 82 students who put Wilmslow School as their first preference but were not successful 66 came from Cheshire East , less than 5 came from Manchester, less than 5 came from Overseas, less than 5 came from Salford and 8 came from Stockport.
Of the 360 places allocated, 351 went to those who made Wilmslow High their first choice.
A total of 83 second preference requests were made for the school and 46 third choice requests.
The school borders other local authorities and in total there were 83 applications from people living outside of Cheshire East.
Of those Cheshire East students who did not receive their first choice of Wilmslow High School, 15 were offered their second choice and 4 offered their third choice preference. (Data relates only to Cheshire East residents as CEC do not know what other local authorities have allocated to their residents).
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said "The figures provided are as at National Offer Day (Monday 3rd March 2025). From previous years we would expect to be able to offer more places at Wilmslow High School up until the waiting list closes in December 2025. As at 18th March 2025, 23 vacancies had been created due to declines from parents including some who have chosen to educate their child in the independent sector and more declines may be received. Further offers have been made to pupils on the waiting list.
"Where we are unable to offer the first preference of Wilmslow High School it may be that we are later able to offer a higher preference school."
