NUMBERS of children offered a place at first-choice primary schools in Bradford district have increased.

Bradford Council’s schools admissions team says 91 per cent of applicants have been awarded a place from September at their top-preference school – up two per cent on last year.

The percentage of parents and carers to be awarded the first or second preference school for their children was 96 – a slight increase on last year – whilst the number to receive one of their top three preferences also increased, to 97.5 per cent.

Those who submitted their applications online have been emailed with the outcome – and letters were posted to other applicants.

Mark Douglas, the council’s strategic director for children’s services, said: “It is fantastic that we have been able to allocate more families their first preference of primary school this year.

“Of the 7,054 total applications from families for a reception-class place, more than 97 per cent have been allocated one of the top three schools they preferred.

“We continue to work hard to ensure our primary schools have the capacity to meet the demand for places. We understand how much it means to families to secure a place for their child at a preferred school and try hard to achieve this.”

In North Yorkshire, 95 per cent of parents and carers secured their first-choice school for their child. And just over 98 per cent received an offer from one of their top three preferences.