MORE than 1,100 children across the district will not be going to their first-choice primary school this September.

And almost 270 youngsters will be going to a school which was not even in their top five preferences.

But the figures are an improvement on last year.

About 8,000 families have just been informed of their school place allocation, with 1,131 children – or 14 per cent – missing out on their first choice.

In 2014, the number was 1,196 – or 14.7 per cent.

Councillor Ralph Berry, the council's executive member for children's services, said he had expected the figures to be worse this year so was pleased with the results.

"Due to the pressure on places I expected the number of children being allocated their first preference to go down," he said.

"We will do our level best to work with those parents who have not got a school that they applied for, but the system is very full.

"To improve on last year is quite remarkable. I would imagine that is largely down to people working out how to use the preference system better."

Councillor Debbie Davies, the council's Conservative spokesman for education, said the improved figures were a good sign, but that it was worrying that more than 250 children would not be going to any of their favoured schools.

"There has been quite a few school expansions at primary level, which could be the reason behind the increased number of children getting their first choice school," she said.

The primary school allocation figures come a month after it was revealed that a quarter of children did not get into their first-choice secondary school.