96pc of pupils land top choice of school in Staffordshire

Of the 8,185 applications submitted, 96 per cent of parents will be sending their child to their preferred school in September.

A total of 99 per cent were allocated one of their top three preferred schools.

Tens of thousands of children across the country have been finding out which school they will be going to in September.

Staffordshire county councillor Ian Parry, cabinet member for education, said: “Obviously parents want the very best for their children so we try to accommodate their wishes as far as is practicable. The admissions process can be quite daunting for a lot of parents, so we do as much as we can to make the process as easy as possible.

“Giving clear guidance, plus working with schools in Staffordshire and in neighbouring authorities, means we can allocate school places efficiently and, in the vast majority of cases, allocate parents one of their top three preferred schools.”

Elsewhere, in Sandwell, around 80 per cent of pupils got their top-choice school, with one in five missing out. The number of pupils being offered their first choice of school increased slightly from 74 per cent last year to 78.91 per cent this year.

Nearly nine in 10 of pupils in Wolverhampton got their first-choice secondary school place this year. Some 86 per cent of pupils have landed places at their first preference – up by seven per cent on last year.

Out of a total of 2,438 applications, 2,116 got their first-choice school, while 211, or 8.65 per cent, were allocated their second choice.

In Dudley, council chiefs said 89 per cent of pupils will get their first preference, which is a one per cent improvement on last year.

The number of pupils in the borough being offered their top-choice school has increased slightly from 88 per cent last year to 89 per cent this year.

Parents in Staffordshire had until October 31 to submit their applications. Around 82 per cent chose to apply online.

Since November, the council’s admissions team has been working with schools and neighbouring authorities to ensure as many pupils as possible receive a place at a preferred school.

Nationally, last year just over 85 per cent were allocated their first-choice secondary school, with just over 95 per cent getting one of their top three schools.