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Choosing school preferences

When you apply for a school place, the form asks you to give a first, second and third school preference. 

Why you should use all three preferences

You should use all three preferences to give the best chance of getting a place at one of your preferred schools. The same school cannot be named more than once.

If you only give one preference for a child starting in September in reception or year 7 and the school you choose is over-subscribed (has more applications than places), we will offer you a place at the nearest school with a vacancy after all other places have been allocated. This means the place may not be at a school you would have preferred. 

School preferences and your legal rights

In most circumstances, school admissions authorities have a legal duty to try to meet parent's preferences. But you do not have the right in law to get a place at a school of your choice.

How to decide on school preferences

When you are considering your preferences, it is important to think about what the school is like, where it is and how your child will get there, and how likely you are to get a place.

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To find out what a school is like, you can:

  • visit the school to see how you feel about the schools atmosphere and the learning environment - go on an open day, or contact the school to arrange a visit
  • look at the school's website
  • read the school's Ofsted report (check the date - the report may date from an inspection some years ago) 

It is your responsibility to make sure your child can get to school safely. It is usually easiest to do this if the school is local.

Choosing a local school also means:

  • children can walk or cycle, which helps them keep fit
  • children can meet up with and chat with friends on the way to school and back
  • it is easier for children to make friends with others who live nearby and to socialise with them outside school
  • it is easier for parents to get to know other parents in the area and get to school events

School transport is available for some pupils.  

Most parents in Cheshire East are offered a place at their first-choice school. However, your chances of securing a place at a particular school will depend on how many applications that school receives.

If a school receives fewer applications than the number of places available, it will usually be able to offer a place to every child who applies.

If a school receives more applications than places available (is oversubscribed), it may not be able to offer places to all applicants. This can include children who have a brother or sister at the school, live nearby, or, in the case of secondary schools, attend a linked feeder primary school.

Schools usually give priority to children in these circumstances, but the order of priority varies between schools. You should check the school's admissions policy to understand how places are allocated.

For Reception and Year 7 applications, you can also look at last year's allocations information. This can give you an indication of how places were allocated previously, although each year's applications may differ.

If you are applying for an in-year school transfer, contact your preferred schools directly to ask whether they are likely to have places available

 

Generally, children's needs can be met by most schools in Cheshire East. This means that children with medical or social needs do not normally get priority for places (unless they have an Education, Health and Care Plan that names a school, in which case the school will offer a place.) Schools that set their own admissions arrangements may have different admissions policies.

 

Page last reviewed: 20 July 2026