THERE'S disappointment for 17 per cent of the Island's Year 6 children today — as they didn't get their first choice secondary school option.

More than 1,000 children were offered places at secondary schools today (Tuesday) on National Offer Day, finding out which secondary school they will attend for the 2022/23 academic year.

On the Island, only 83 per cent got their preferred first choice.

Everyone who wanted to go to Christ the King College and Medina College as their first choice got a place.

Oversubscribed schools were Carisbrooke College, Ryde Academy, and The Island Free School.

In total, the Isle of Wight Council received 1,167 applications on time.

Of those, 1,013 (83 per cent) received their first choice, 127 (ten per cent) their second choice and 27 (two per cent) their third choice.

It means nearly 95 per cent of parents have been offered a place for their child at one of their preferred schools. This compares to 91 per cent in 2021.

Every on-time applicant was offered a place. There are some families who applied late and their school offer will be sent shortly.

Cllr Debbie Andre, cabinet member for children's services, education and skills, said: "I'm really pleased to see that the vast majority of applicants gained a place at one of their preferred schools, with most getting their first choice and all students being offered a place.

"We do all we can to make the application process as straightforward as possible in partnership with our island schools, while meeting families' choices in the vast majority of cases.

“I appreciate how difficult the transition can be from primary to secondary and how important pupil choice is in both maintaining existing friendships and local, community connections.”

Parents who have applied for a primary school place for their child will be notified on April 19, 2022.