THOUSANDS of families are celebrating today after more than 90 per cent of children secured places at their first-choice primary school in Worcestershire.

Months of anxious waiting ended for thousands of parents across the county yesterday  when they found out where their son or daughter will be starting school this September.

This year, 5,311 or 92.4 per cent of the 5,749 offers made by Worcestershire County Council were for first choice schools - up on 89.6 per cent last year.

There were 225 offers made for second choice schools and 213 children received a place at their third choice or another school.

Tracey Wilson, Worcestershire County Council's mainstream admissions officer, said parents who were not happy with the offers received could appeal or apply to go on a waiting list for the school of their choice.

She said: “We have worked carefully to match children with their preferred schools in line with the national guidelines for school admissions.

“This year we have been able to achieve 96% of applicants being offered their first or second choice.

“In the small number of cases where we have been unable to offer a place at any of the preferred schools, we are obliged to offer the next nearest school with places.

“Parents have the opportunity to appeal and can also apply to go on the waiting list of the school of their choice.”

Mum-of-two Melanie Brooker, lives in Badger Gardens, St Peter’s, with her partner Justin Walsh and their daughters Madeline, aged four, and 10-month-old Zoe.

The family picked Cherry Orchard Primary School as their first choice for Madeline, but received an offer from their second choice, Nunnery Wood Primary School.

The 36-year-old said she was pleased her daughter was going to a good school and did not have an issue with the admissions system, but believed not enough consideration was given to school placements in relation to new housing developments.

She said: “We used to be in the catchment for Cherry Orchard, but because of the high birth rate on the estate last year we missed out by a cycle path.

“I don’t blame the system. They put up all these houses on the other side of the Timberdine island. Cherry Orchard was within walking distance but there’s no chance of walking to Nunnery.

“The birth rate is going up and so are the houses. Who knows where Zoe will go to school. They’ve built new houses but they haven’t thought any further.”

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