More children than ever will attend one of their preferred choice secondary schools this September, says Wiltshire Council, with almost 99 per cent being offered one of their top three choices.

From today 4, 644 families from across Wiltshire are finding out which secondary school their child will be attending with 98.7 percent being told their child will attend one of their preferred schools – up from 98.1 percent in 2014.

A total 4,404 pupils, 95 percent, will receive their first choice, making this the second year Wiltshire Council has been able to offer 95 percent of applicants their first choice school. Last year Wiltshire was almost ten percent above the national average of 85.2 percent of children receiving their first choice school.

This year parents also had the option of applying for places online and 65 percent of families completed applications in this way and will find out the decision today by visiting www.wiltshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions

Those who posted their application will be sent first class letters today but all applicants will be sent a letter in this way regardless of how they applied.

Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a parent has to make and I’m very pleased that once again so many Wiltshire pupils will be going to the school of their choice.”

All applicants have until March 18 to accept the offer they receive and the right to an independent appeal is open to anyone who has not received one of their preferred schools.

Details of how to appeal are included in the decision letter posted to all applicants and is available at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/schooladmissionsappeals

Secondary admissions are co-ordinated across county boundaries.

Wiltshire’s admissions team deals with applications not only for all Wiltshire secondary schools (including the two grammar schools in Salisbury), but also with applications from Wiltshire residents to attend schools outside the county.

About 305 Wiltshire residents will be offered schools outside the county and 300 children will come into Wiltshire schools from other areas.