Welwyn Hatfield pupils receive secondary school placement results today

IT is the moment of truth for youngsters, and their parents, awaiting to hear what secondary school they will be attending today.

Most should be pleased with the outcome as just over 80 per cent of Hertfordshire children have gained a place at their first ranked school.

Parents and carers will be sent their notification letters by first class post today (Monday), and the 87 per cent of parents who registered online will be able to access their decision from early evening today.

This year 11,965 children in the county (95.48 per cent) have been allocated one of their three ranked schools - a success rate that is 2.63 per cent up on last year’s.

The deadline to submit an appeal against any decision is 4pm on March 22.

Richard Thake, executive member for education and skills, said: “We want to ensure that as many children as possible get a place at one of their ranked schools.”

He added: “I do appreciate that some parents may be disappointed with the school they have been allocated, but would encourage them to visit the school and speak to the headteacher before dismissing the offered place.”

All those applicants who haven’t been offered their preference school are automatically placed on the interest list for any schools named higher on the application form than the school offered.

If they are happy with the school they have been offered and do not wish to pursue other preferences they should ‘opt out’ before March 16, otherwise risk losing the original school offered as the allocation will automatically be updated if they are successful.

Welwyn Hatfield pupils receive secondary school placement results today