MORE than 500 parents have lodged official appeals after fewer children got into their preferred secondary school this year.

In Hampshire, nine per cent of children - 1,282 pupils - failed to get into their first preference school compared to five per cent last year.

In Winchester, Westgate and Kings' School were the most over-subscribed schools with hundreds turned away.

Now Hampshire County Council has received 520 letters from parents saying they intend to challenge the admission ruling.

The number is a sharp increase on 2007 when 349 families appealed.

Of those who appealed last year, 43 per cent succeeded in overturning the decision to refuse a place.

The local education authority organises the appeal panels which are made up of volunteers often with some connection to the school. In Hampshire, there will be 41 schools involved in appeals this year.

The first appeals will be heard on May 7. Under government rules, the hearings must all be finished by July 6.

Families can appeal on the grounds that mistakes have been made in the admissions criteria or that special consideration should be given to their child.

The Government overhauled the admissions system this year.

The new "equal preference" system is supposed to be fairer as parents' three choices for secondary school are considered at the same time instead of one after another.

But many angry parents have complained they do not have a genuine choice.

Children in villages are among the worst affected because they live furthest from school gates, reducing their chances of being allocated a place.

They have to accept their catchment school even if it is underperforming.

Councillor David Kirk, who is in charge of education in Hampshire, said: "I think part of the problem is the word choice. Actually parents can express a preference. There is a subtle difference."

He criticised Government ministers for using the word "choice" as it built up unrealistic expectations.

Cllr Kirk said overall he thought the new admissions rules were fairer.

He said: "The previous system was designed in such as way that if a pupil did not get in their first preference school the chance of getting into their second or third preference schools was less because by the time they considered the application the school could be full."

But the education chief said he regretted some parents did not get their preferred school.

He said: "We would strive to get to a point where there is less reason to choose one school over another in terms of achievement so they all get their share of pupils.

"So in Winchester, people see no difference between Kings, Westgate or Henry Beaufort."

A council spokesman warned there would be "turbulence" in the admissions process until September.

Some pupils allocated places will not take them up, for example because they go to private schools instead.

This means others who missed out first time round may still get a place depending on their position on the waiting list.

And some parents who said they would challenge the ruling may not need to go to appeal.

The council spokesman said: "We advise families to add their names to the waiting list of any preferred school that rejected their application."