The wait for news of primary school places is almost over for pupils and parents.

PARENTS and carers of pupils starting school in September will receive an allocation offer from Gloucestershire County Council today.

This year 96 per cent of parents and carers applied online, a three per cent increase on last year.

Everyone that applied via the website will receive an email confirming their school place after 9am today and will be able to accept their place online if they wish.

Other parents and carers will receive written notification of their child’s allocated school in the post. 

This year a total of 6,978 children have been offered a primary school place for September and parents are encouraged to accept their place online or return their reply forms as soon as possible.

If parents ask for their child's allocation to be reconsidered, they will be placed on the waiting list for their preferred school(s). 

If parents are unhappy with their initial allocation, they are encouraged to keep their allocated place as this will ensure that, whatever the outcome of the reconsideration, their child will have a place at a school in September.

Tim Browne, head of education at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We know this can be a really stressful time for families, so we are pleased that 96 per cent of children have been offered one of their preferences and 88 per cent received a place at their first preference school.

“This is a really exciting time in a child’s life and I hope each and every young person in the county settles in well in to their new school.”

The admission criteria and more information about waiting lists for every school is also available atgloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions