HAMPSHIRE County Council has offered 99.2 per cent of parents a place for their child at a secondary school of their choice, with 95.2 per cent getting their first preference.

This equates to 12,098 offers for a first preference, out of some 12,702 applications for Hampshire schools that have been processed by the county council.

County councillors recently agreed a budget with a substantial investment of almost £150million to create thousands of new school places over the next three years.

Cllr Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Education, said: “Once again we have been able to offer a high number of pupils a place at their preferred secondary school and that’s great news. 99.2% of pupils will be going to one of their top three choices, and for 95.2% this will be their first choice.

“I understand there will be some disappointment for the few parents who did not secure a place at one of their chosen schools, but this is a very small number, just 107 out of nearly 13,000 pupils across the county. There are always individual schools that experience exceptionally high demand, and I see this as a credit to the high standard of teaching at these schools.”

Pupils who did not secure a place at one of their chosen schools will be allocated a place at the nearest school with available places. Parents have the right to appeal, and can put their child’s name down on their preferred school’s waiting list. Places do become available if parents change their mind, or families move home.