Dozens of children receiving free school meals have secured places at out of catchment secondary schools after new rules came into play.

Figures released on Monday (3 March) show 95 such children were offered places.

Of these, 58 were at two of the city’s most popular schools, Dorothy Stringer and Varndean.

Meanwhile no children living in that catchment who applied on time to both schools were sent to different schools.

Brighton and Hove City Council introduced the FSM priority for the first time this year, meaning the figures are being closely scrutinised by parents.

Some parents had expressed concerns the policy would see Varndean end up with a much higher number FSM pupils , which academics say can lead to poorer outcomes for all pupils.

Today (5 March), Brighton and Hove City Council said 37.67 per cent of all offers at Varndean were made to children on FSM.

For next year, the policy has been adjusted to bring the total number of places offered to FSM pupils in that and higher priorities to no more than 30 per cent – just above the city average.

A new priority for children living in any single-school catchment up to 5 per cent of places offered is also being introduced – a lower priority than FSM but higher than general in-catchment children.

Across the city,  89 children were offered a directed place – which means they did not secure a place at a preferred school – 3.8 per cent of the total 2,338 who applied.

Of these, 14 pupils live in the Dorothy Stringer and Varndean catchment area.

Brighton and Hove City Council stated all these applied late or did not follow the council’s guidance to express a preference for their catchment area school, or both schools if they live in a dual catchment area.

These pupils were allocated places at PACA, Hove Park, Patcham, BACA and Longhill.

Cabinet member for children, families and youth services councillor Emma Daniel, said: “We’re proud to have become the first council in the country to introduce a school admissions policy giving a priority for pupils eligible for free school meals.

“Having now seen the first admissions process take place under this new policy, we are confident there are pupils starting secondary school in September who have been given the greater opportunities this was designed to do.

“We’re confident this policy is working as intended but will be working with a university research team to fully assess and understand its impact over the longer term.

“We are committed to ensuring all children in this city have equal access to high-quality education and to address any educational inequalities that exist.”

Varndean

Varndean proved the most popular of Brighton and Hove City Council’s community secondary schools, with 88 youngsters securing the 90 places available through the free school meals priority.

For the free school meals allocation, 53 places were for children living in the catchment and a further 35 youngsters who receive free school meals but live outside the catchment secured places.