MORE than nine in ten Hampshire children are set to go to the secondary school their parents picked out as their first choice, despite more than 400 extra applications being made to the county council than last year.

Of the parents applying for a September 2018 Year 7 place at a Hampshire secondary school, 98 per cent have been offered a school of their choice with over 92 per cent being allocated a place at their preferred first choice school.

The county council received 13,981 on-time applications this year, up by 428 from last year.

The figures came out on National Offer Day last week.

Councillor Keith Mans, Hampshire County Council’s executive lead member for children’s services, said: “Yet again, we have been able to offer a very high number of pupils a place at their preferred secondary school.

“Considering the size of Hampshire and number of students to accommodate, this is a sizeable achievement.

“Thanks to our strong track record in planning for the future and our sustained investment in school expansions and new schools, we are ensuring that we can provide a school place for every child in Hampshire.

“I am pleased to say, we are keeping pace with the rising number of pupils.”

Pupils who did not secure a place at one of their chosen schools have been allocated a place at a school near to where they live, with available spaces.

Parents have the right to appeal in these situations and their child’s name will be added to the waiting list for their preferred schools.

The council added school places do become available if parents change their mind, or families move home.

Councillor Mans added: “I understand there will be some disappointment for those parents who did not secure a place at one of their chosen schools, but every child whose parents applied for a place at a Hampshire secondary school, has been offered one.

“There are always individual schools with exceptionally high demand, which is a credit to the high standard of teaching at these schools.”

The county council’s schools admissions team is now processing primary school applications with offers due to go out to parents on April 16.