Families across Macclesfield and the wider area have received their primary school allocations for the upcoming academic year, with 99 per cent of parents in Cheshire East securing a place at one of their top three preferred schools for children starting in September 2026.
According to Cheshire East Council, the results follow the processing of 3,978 applications from local residents. While 92.6 per cent of families received their first preference, the local authority continues to meet its legal duty to ensure there are enough school places available for all children in the region.
The latest figures show a slight change from 2025, where 93.6 per cent of parents were granted their first choice. Despite this shift, the percentage of families receiving one of their top three preferences has improved slightly, rising to 99 per cent compared to 98.9 per cent last year.
Councillor Laura Crane, who serves as the chair of the council’s Children and Families Committee, oversees the authority’s work in managing these placements. The council currently maintains responsibility for ensuring education capacity across more than 120 primary schools, the vast majority of which have been rated as good or outstanding by the national education watchdog.
For parents who may have questions about their allocation, the council advises accepting the offered place while they explore alternative options. Families looking to pursue an appeal or join a waiting list have until mid-May for the former and until the end of December for the latter to finalise their arrangements.
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