MOST Hampshire pupils have got their preferred school places, it has been confirmed.

The news comes as yesterday parents were told where their children will be educated from September.

Hampshire County Council has confirmed that 97.77 per cent  of parents have been offered a reception year place for their child in one of their three preferred choice schools with 90.96 per cent being allocated a place at their first choice of school.

The authority said it has processed more than 22,500 applications this year.

Meanwhile,  of the pupils transferring from infant school to junior school (Year 3), 99.07 per cent received a place at one of their three choices, with 97.88 per cent  obtaining a place at their first choice school, the county council said. 

Cllr Roz Chadd, the authority’s executive member for education and skills, said: “This is very good news and reflects how school place planning is essential in ensuring that there is a school place for every child in Hampshire. While schools are currently closed to all but the children of key workers or vulnerable children, due to the current response to the coronavirus pandemic, I am optimistic that by September we will have returned to our normal day to day lives and children will be able to begin their time at school in the usual way.”

The council said parents who did not secure a place at a school of their choice have been advised about the right to appeal and the arrangements for their preferred school’s waiting list. The authority also said that in response to the current Covid-19 situation, parents of children starting school in September 2020 are advised to wait to be contacted by the school about how to present their proof of address and child’s birth certificate. They should not attempt to visit the school ahead of this, to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to, the council said.