MORE pupils in Swindon who are starting secondary school in September got their first choice of school this year than the national average.

A total of 98.8 per cent of pupils got their first choice of secondary school for this year, compared to 85.3 per cent nationally and 91.7 per cent in the south west.

Around 74,000 children across the country have missed out on a place at their first-choice secondary school, which is around 5,000 fewer than last year Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “I am pleased that year-on-year more pupils are being offered a place at their preferred school. Unfortunately, while progress is being made, we are still some way short of making this a reality for all pupils.

“Around 74,000 children are still unable to attend the secondary school they want.

“Parents are faced with an extremely competitive and stressful process for securing a place for their children.

“We want to ease this pressure by creating more good school places, which is the driver behind all our reforms to the education system.

“The new admissions code will make it easier for the best schools to create more places.”