Large numbers of Salford high school applications could cause children to miss out

Moorside High School. Google Maps. 

Parents in Salford will find out which secondary school their children are going to in September this Friday (March 1), with many potentially missing out on their first choice.

Figures from Salford City Council, from the 2023 academic year, show that every one of the city’s high schools, barring Irlam and Cadishead Academy, were over-subscribed.

This could make it an anxious wait for many parents and students going into Year 7 this September that they will not be able to attend their desired secondary school.

Last year, Moorside High School received a total of 623 applicants despite only offering 210 places to new Year 7s.

Schools such as St Patrick’s RC High School, Ellesmere Park High School and All Hallows RC High School also received more than double the number of applications that they would be able to accept.

The table below shows the data for the oversubscription of secondary schools in Salford in 2023 and provides a guide for what may happen this September:

Salford City Council says all on-time, online applicants will be able to view their school place offer on Friday by logging into the Family Portal.

Those who applied with a paper form will receive a letter in the post on the same date, or just afterwards.

Admission policies across Salford differ across schools, but can be based on how close a student lives to the school, a student’s religion, and other factors.

The government’s School Admission Code requires that all schools give priority to “looked after children, previously looked after children and internationally adopted previously looked after children.”

Salford schools will need to take this into account for their 2024 intake.

If a student is not offered a secondary school place at the school(s) of their choice, they can either choose another school with places available or leave their name on the waiting list at their chosen school in case a place becomes available.

Parents also have the right to appeal if they do not get a place for their child at the school of their choice.

You can find out more about the application for a secondary school here.