NEARLY nine out of 10 children across the county have been handed a place at their first choice primary school.

Oxfordshire County Council has said it allocated first preference places to 88 per cent of children due to start school this September.

While the number of children offered their first preference increased by 335 from last year, the overall percentage represented a slight drop from the 89 per cent of children offered their first choice in 2014.

It comes after the council received 471 more applications this year - a total of 8,016 children.

A total of 96 per cent of children have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools

Oxfordshire County Council’s deputy director for education Rebecca Matthews said: “Oxfordshire has a strong record in being able to offer first-preference places to the overwhelming majority of children and this is once again a very positive result following a big increase in applications this year.

“In circumstances where demand for places at particular schools exceeds their capacity, the reality is that not everyone can be offered a place.

“That means while most Oxfordshire families will be receiving the news they were hoping for, there will also be some disappointed families.”

Disappointed parents who have not received a first-preference offer can appeal and remain on a “continued interests” list for their preferred school in case spaces become available.