NINE out of 10 11-year-olds in Oxfordshire have been given places at their first choice secondary school, Oxfordshire County Council said last night.

Children across the county found out yesterday where they would be heading in September.

In total, 5,466 of the 6,059 pupils applying for school places got into their first choice school – a 1.5 per cent increase on last year. Of those who missed out, 371 were given places at their second choice school and 103 at their third choice school.

But 119 pupils will be heading to schools they did not list among their top three choices.

The councillor responsible for school improvement, Michael Waine, said: “It is good to see these results are even better than last year with more than 90 per cent of Oxfordshire children being offered a first preference school and more than 98 per cent getting one of their first three preferences.”

He said parents must accept the places by the deadline of Friday, March 18. Schools MInister Nick Gibb said: “This is a stressful day for parents as they wait to hear which school their child will attend because the sad fact is there are not enough good schools delivering the academic standards demanded by parents.”

l Has your child failed to get any of his or her top three school preferences? Call our newsdesk on 01865 425444 or email news@oxfordmail.co.uk