Families in Shepton are breathing a sigh of relief today, as nearly 99% of local children entering primary school for the first time this September have been allocated one of their top three preferred schools for the 2024/25 academic year.

According to Somerset Council, 98.86% of the 5,136 Somerset applicants received offers from their preferred schools, with 95.33% placed in their first-choice school.

Here's how the placement figures break down:

• First preference met for 95.33% of applicants (4,894 offers)
• Second preference met for 2.98% (153 offers)
• Third preference met for 0.55% (28 offers)

In the previous academic year, 98.94% of applicants received one of their top three preferences, with 94.54% getting their first choice.

Cllr Heather Shearer, Lead Member for Children, Families and Education at Somerset Council, said: "At Somerset Council, we are proud to be able to offer such a high percentage of parents and carers their preferred choice of primary school for another year running. We aim to provide the best possible education for all the young people in Somerset and will support these pupils through every stage of their education journey."

Notifications for the school placements were distributed on Tuesday, 16th April, with online applicants receiving their offers by email and those who applied by post receiving letters throughout the week.

The schools assigned to new students will contact families soon to discuss details for the upcoming school year.

Parents and carers whose children have not been offered a place at one of their preferred schools have several alternatives available to them. Somerset Council provides detailed advice and options on their Refused a place at your preferred school webpage.