Huge increase in number of children offered first choice primary place

As letters with offers of places were due to reach parents' homes today, 95 percent were successful in securing a place for their child in their preferred school. This is an increase of 14 percent from 2009 and means that almost 300 more children than last year will go to a Southwark school of their choice.

And there was even better news for parents this time as the number of children who have been offered places in their family's first choice school was 83 percent - an eleven per cent increase from last year.

It is expected that this percentage will increase further as some parents will not take up their offers, as they are either moving or are taking a school offered in another borough, releasing a place in Southwark to another child.

Southwark Council has been working closely with local schools and planning ahead to offer additional classes for local children. The tiny minority of parents who were not offered a place in one of their preferred schools will also include non Southwark residents who have unsuccessfully applied for a place in one of the borough's primaries.

Romi Bowen, Strategic Director of Children's Services, said: "We're delighted that we have been able to accommodate the first choice of school for so many parents and carers. This can be directly attributed to the bulge classes, which are providing much needed extra places at our most popular schools, and we are grateful to the many headteachers and governors who have supported this policy.

"In addition, the results of our schools across the board have improved so much that they do better than the national average - and as a result parents and carers increasingly have a range of good schools from which to choose."