St Helens Council 'best in the North West' for school places choice » Local Government » 24dash.com

Government figures reveal that St.Helens is the best Local Education Authority in the North West at giving parents their preferred options for high school places.

For the Allocations Process in September 2008  92% of students (1898) were given their first option while 97% (2008) received one of their three options. 
This continues a pattern of previous years, where over 90% of parents have received their first preferences.

Susan Richardson, Director for Children and Young People’s Services says:  “This is a really outstanding achievement.

Both nationally and local there has been a lot of bad press over placement options and poor admissions practice.

“I would like to take this opportunity to point out that it is only a handful of people who do not get one of their top three choices of high school.

"These figures clearly show that St.Helens is outperforming other LEAs in the North West and in most other parts of the country.  

“Equally, St.Helens Council has been working with all its schools over the past years to ensure all schools in the Borough comply with the new Statutory Admissions Code of Practice, and co-ordinates all admissions Borough wide.   I am confident that we are an example of best practice in this respect.”