THOUSANDS of pupils were offered a place at their first-choice primary school today.

Relieved parents can now start getting their children ready for the start of the term in September after receiving their letter or email which revealed what schools they'd been offered.

More schoolchildren were matched with their first preference by Swindon Borough Council's School Admissions Team than last year.

91.4% of the 2,825 on-time applications for primary school places received by the Team were matched with their first choice.

Sophie Dancey moved to Swindon with her fiancé Daniel in October and she was thrilled that her four-year-old son Jensen was going to Liden Primary School.

Miss Dancey said: "We only put down one choice as we live in Liden and, working full time, I wanted the closest. I'm so glad we got it.

"Jensen's excited about starting but also sad that he won't see his friends from nursery anymore."

Parents could request a place in up to three schools.

98% were offered a place at one of their three preferences, which is also a slight increase from last year's figures.

Priority for places was determined by the admission criteria for each school.

Councillor Fionuala Foley, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “It is a credit to our School Admissions Team that they continue to offer so many parents their first choice of primary school, year on year.

“A great deal of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure we have enough primary school places and that they are available in those parts of the borough where we have a growing population.

“Part of this work involves increasing places in existing schools, but also in providing new schools and I was delighted to hear last week of the Government’s announcement that we are to receive two new free schools as this will ensure we can build on our excellent work in school place planning.”

Across the county, 92% of children in Wiltshire were offered their first-choice primary school and 98% of families were offered one of their top three choices.

Wiltshire Council received 5,273 applications, most of them online.

Wiltshire Council corporate director Carolyn Godfrey said: “Finding out your child’s first school is an important milestone for families and I’m pleased that once again in Wiltshire so many will be attending a school of their choice this September.”

The deadline for primary school place applications was January 15.

Anyone who submitted their preferences after the deadline was offered a place at the next nearest school with a place available at the time if their preferred school was oversubscribed.

All applicants will have until May 2 to accept the offer they receive. Anyone who hasn't received one of their preferred schools has the right to an appeal.

For more information, residents in Swindon should click here while Wiltshire parents can appeal here