MORE than 90 per cent of children in Swindon and Wiltshire will be going to their chosen primary schools next September.

Figures released this week show 93 per cent of those living in Swindon have been offered their first choice school while 98 per cent of families in Wiltshire were allocated one of their three options in Wiltshire.

It is a one per cent increase on last year's figure for Swindon schools.

The borough council's schools admissions team received 2,854 on-time applications for primary places and priority for places was determined by whether admission criteria for each school was met by the parents who were able to list up to three schools in their applications.

A large majority of bids were made online. In Wiltshire more than 94 per cent of parents and guardians chose the approach and a total of 5,245 applications were made online.

Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for education, said: “This is a big day for thousands of families across Wiltshire, and I am delighted that the overwhelming majority can look forward to an exciting future at their first choice primary school in September.

“The high numbers of families achieving one of their preferences is once again also due to the long term meticulous planning by our officers who ensure there are sufficient places across the county.”

Parents had until January 15 to make their applications and letters confirming their offers were sent out on April 16.

Swindon Borough Council said applicants who submitted their application after the deadline would have been offered a place at their next nearest school if their preferred school was oversubscribed when the admission team was allocating pupil places.

But it added: "The admissions team have been able to offer 54 per cent of late applications a place at one of their preferred schools."

Families who have not received an offer from one of their preferred schools have the right to independent arbitration.

The deadline for lodging an appeal for a voluntary controlled or community school is May 14. Parents who want to appeal for a place at a voluntary aided, foundation school or an academy need to contact the school directly to confirm the appeal deadline date. Information is also included in decision letters.

Wiltshire parents who applied online can also see which school their child will attend by visiting the Wiltshire Council website.