Most Shropshire pupils going to first choice school

Both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils have seen the percentage of children they can send to the first choice school selected by their families increase this year.

In the Shropshire Council area, 96.2 per cent of the 2,850 children who will be going to primary school in the next academic year have been offered their top option - up from 91.5 per cent last year.

A total of 98.6 per cent of children have been offered at place at one of the top three choices put down by their parents, an increase on the 96 per cent recorded in 2012.

A similar situation has also been reported in Telford & Wrekin, where more than 90 per cent of families have been offered their first choice primary school.

The percentage of children who will be going to the first-choice school selected by their families has increased this year to 93.4 per cent – compared to 92 per cent last year.

It means that 2,013 children out of a total 2,156 who will be starting school in September in the borough will be going to their top option of school.

A further 79 children were offered their second choice, with 24 their third choice.

It means that 98.2 per cent of families have been offered one of their three selected options, compared to 97.8 per cent.

A total of 40 children have been allocated the nearest available school after missing out on any of their choices.

A spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council said: "Unfortunately a few families have not been able to be offered any of their stated preferences, sometimes because they have only put down one preference on their form.

"For these families we have offered a place at the nearest school to their home address with a place available.

"If any families are unhappy with the school they have been allocated they can return the review slip at the end of their letter to the admissions team at the council who will do their best to help."