AROUND nine out of ten children in Southampton and Hampshire starting at a new school in September have been accepted into their first choice.

Newly-released figures from the Department for Education show that 88% of children beginning either primary or secondary education in Southampton will be joining their preferred school, a similar rate to those who started in 2017.

The data shows that of the 2,331 children who have applied to start year seven in one of the city’s secondary schools, 88% will be joining their first choice.

In Hampshire 93% of children beginning either primary or secondary education will be joining their preferred school, a similar rate to those who started in 2017.

The data shows that of the 13,979 children who have applied to start year seven in one of the area’s secondary schools, 92% will be joining their first choice.

It is higher than the average rate Across the South East, where 84% of children were accepted into their preferred secondary. Nationally, 82% were awarded a place at their top choice of secondary school.

In Southampton, parents were allowed to provide up to three preferences for their children’s secondary school, and 96% of children were accepted into one of these. It was the same in Hampshire where 98% of children were accepted into one of the three choices.

There were 2,808 applications for pre-school children to join reception in one of Southampton’s primaries.

Of those, 88% were accepted into their first choice, and 96% were accepted into one their three preferred options.

In Hampshire there were 14,656 applications for pre-school children to join reception with 94% accepted into their first choice, and 99% accepted into one their three preferred options.

Across the South East, 90% of children were accepted into their preferred primary school; slightly below the 91% average in England.

For each of the last five years, fewer children in England have been accepted into their first-choice secondary schools, as the system feels the impact of a growth in the birth rate in the early 2000s. In primaries, the first-choice rate has increased each year.

Richard Watts of the Local Government Association warned that as more secondary schools become academies and free schools, local authorities will lose the power to control school admissions.

He said: “As we have previously warned, these figures show demand is reducing in primary schools but increasing in secondary schools. With nearly 70% of secondary schools now academies or free schools, the lack of any council power or influence over the expansion and admissions policies of academies and free schools is a real concern.”

“Councils must be given powers to force schools to expand if local agreement cannot be reached voluntarily where this is in the best interests of new and existing pupils. Most academies will be keen to work with their local authorities, but in the minority of situations where this isn’t the case, appropriate powers are vital to ensure all children get a suitable place.”