ALMOST 90 per cent of families applying for Barnsley primary school places for September got their first choice, according to figures provided by Barnsley Council. 

The total number of applications for reception class places was up slightly this year at 2,838, compared to 2,812 last year.  In 89.8 per cent of cases, pupils were given their first choice. There were 161 children (5.7 per cent) who were given their second choice, and 30 (1.1 per cent) got their third choice.  This left a total of 98 children (3.5 per cent) who were not given any of their three choices.  There are 144 late applications which are still being processed. Council spokesman Rachel Dickinson, executive director, said: “I am pleased to confirm that 96 per cent of families in Barnsley have been allocated a place according to one of their three preferences.  

“The council’s admissions team is working hard to support families during this time and are currently processing a number of late applications.  “The council is committed to ensuring the transition for children to primary school is a positive one and will provide information and advice to families, as required, in order to best support them following notification of their allocated school place.”