Latest: Hundreds more pupils get into first choice primary in Leeds on national offer day

Leeds City Council has allocated reception places to more than 10,000 children today.

The authority said 87 per cent of applicants have been given a place at their first choice compared with 85 per cent last year - when the city was embroiled in a row over the number of places available in Roundhay and Alwoodley.

Figures show more than 400 more children getting a place at their first preference for 2016/17 compared to last year.

Three per cent of applicants, or 301 pupils, did not get into any of their chosen schools and have been offered places elsewhere. This compares with 550 or 5.5 per cent last year.

The number of applications was the highest for the past 15 years, with nearly 700 more this year than in 2013.  The council said its school places planning team had worked hard with primaries to create an extra 425 places for September. Coun Lucinda Yeadon, the council’s executive member for children and families said: “For parents and carers, choosing a school for their children is one of the most important decisions they will make.  I am pleased we have been able to offer 97 percent of families one of their preferences.” She thanked schools for their co-operation in providing more places. She added: “However, we do understand how disappointing and distressing it is when people aren’t allocated their preferred school, which is why we encourage parents to make sure they include their nearest school and use all five preferences to increase their chances of obtaining a place at a local school.”