MOST Year 6 pupils in Swindon will be going to their first-choice secondary school in September.  

Swindon Borough Council confirmed 87 per cent were accepted for their first pick after receiving 2,831 applications - up from 2,742 the previous year.  

The council allowed applicants to choose four secondary schools rather than three, in line with Department of Education guidelines, following changes to the timing of 11+ grammar school exams last year.  

And 98 per cent of pupils in Swindon have been offered one of their top four preferences.  

Cabinet member for education Russell Holland said: “I am very pleased that our School Admissions team have been able to successfully allocate 87 per cent of pupils their first-choice secondary school for September. 

“We have a fantastic range of schools here in Swindon and I’d like to wish all our Year 6 students who are moving up to secondary school, the best of luck for their next step. 

“My thanks also goes out to our Admissions team for all their hard work processing the huge number of applications that were received this year.” 

One Swindon school received almost double the amount of applicants compared to the number it could admit. The council said first preferences have been more evenly split among schools in previous years. 

All parents who met the national deadline last October should receive emails today confirming where their child has been placed.   

Offers for primary school places will be sent on April 16, if parents met the national deadline in January.