Cumberland Council has confirmed that the vast majority of parents and carers applying for a reception school place for September 2026 have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools.
99.6% of children starting school in September 2026 were offered a place at their first preference school, and 99.8% received an offer at one of their top three preferences.
The council continues to remind families of the importance of naming more than one preference when applying. Listing only one school does not increase the likelihood of securing it, and it may limit the options available when allocating an alternative place.
For children transferring to junior school (Year 3) in September 2026, 99.7% of applicants were offered their first preference school. Nearly all families who named more than one preference received an offer at one of their chosen schools.
Families have been notified of their allocated school by email or letter, depending on how they applied. Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the Cumberland School Admissions Team at [email protected], where a member of the team will be happy to help.
