MORE than nine out of 10 families received their first preference secondary school placements for September, new figures out this week suggest.

Devon County Council says that 93.7 per cent of families who applied for a secondary school place next September have been offered their first preference.

That compares with 93.5 per cent last year.

In all, 98.4 per cent of families will get one of their three preferences.

That compares with 98.2 per cent last year. This year, 7,142 allocations were made for a place at a Devon mainstream secondary school. Parents were notified of their places this week and the council’s admissions team will be available to deal with enquiries supported by the schools team at Devon’s Customer Service Centre.

Devon’s Cabinet Member for schools, Councillor Julian Brazil, said: “Devon has always done well to meet people’s school preferences, and this year is no exception.

“As ever, it’s in large part thanks to our admissions and school organisation teams as well as the close cooperation we have with schools.

“The statistics are quite likely to improve further before September as appeals are heard and other factors are taken into account, such as parents not taking up places they have been offered.”