MORE than four-out-of-five of Surrey parents applying for reception class places have been offered their first preference school as the demand for places reaches a new high, says Surrey County Council.

Figures from the council on primary school “national offer day” showed 82.4 per cent of Surrey pupils were offered the school they put first on their list – down slightly on last year’s 83.1 per cent.

The number applying for reception class places rose by 279 to a record 13,827 – more than enough to fill a new one-form primary school. All Surrey pupils who needed a place got one.

Primary education in Surrey covers infant and junior levels. Figures for applications for reception classes in September 2016 also show: 94 per cent of Surrey applicants were offered one of their top three preferences – down from 94.2 per cent last year, that all Surrey pupils who needed a place got one, and 13,827 Surrey residents applied for places – up two per cent from 13,548 last year.

Junior school applications figures for September showed:

• 90.3 per cent of Surrey applicants were offered their first preference school – up from 90 per cent last year,

• 95.2 per cent of Surrey applicants were offered one of their top three preferences – the same as last year.

Linda Kemeny, Surrey County Council’s member for schools, said: “We’re pleased more than four-in-five children seeking reception places have got into the primary school they wanted despite another rise this year in the number of applications.

“There has been a small decline in the proportion being offered their first preference school which may be linked to the increase in demand for places we’re seeing in Surrey.

“Ninety per cent of primary schools are now rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. Over the next five years, we know we need to find a further 11,000 places across our primary and secondary schools but it is getting harder and harder to pay for them because rising demand is not being matched by extra funding from the Government.”