2008 was the first year that local authorities were required to provide data to the Secretary of State on secondary school offers made to parents on the day that parents are notified of their school places. Data was not collected at a constituency level. Figures for Essex local authority, in which West Chelmsford constituency is situated, showed that 19.2 per cent. (3,087) of children resident in that authority who were eligible to transfer to secondary school in September 2008 were not offered a place at their parents' first choice school. 96 per cent. were offered a preferred school.
The day that parents are notified of their secondary school place is the first part of the process of obtaining a preferred school. These figures are likely to have changed by September as places became available or appeals were successful.
Data on 2009 secondary school applications and offers will be published on 12 March.