Over 98 per cent of Devon children get one of their preferred primary schools

More than 98 per cent of Devon’s five-year-old children have been offered a place at one of their preferred primary schools this year.

94.7 per cent of the families who applied to Devon County Council have been offered their first choice school.

Three per cent have been offered their second choice and 0.45 per cent their third option.

That’s despite an increase in the number of children requiring places across the county.

Altogether, 7,764 children have been offered places compared with 7,601 last year.

Devon’s Head of Education, Sue Clarke, said: “I want to congratulate our admissions team for their efforts this year.

“Managing the applications against the spaces available has been a more complex task for them this year because of the increase in the number of children.

“But it is very gratifying that we have been able to accommodate almost every child in one of their three preferred schools.”

“Those who could not be accommodated in one of their three preferred schools have all been offered a primary place.

”The county council has been working very closely with headteachers and governors of schools in areas where demand for places is growing.

“We have been well prepared for the rise in numbers this year.

“We have already agreed to expand schools and increase the number of places available in Exeter at ExwickHeights, St Leonard’s and Willowbrook schools, in Exmouth at Marpool, Bassetts Farm and Withycombe Raleigh, at Lympstone and in the north of the county at Bideford Abbotsham, Bampton, and Southmead  in Braunton”