A total of 92% of four and five years olds who applied for a primary school place in Suffolk have received offers for their first choice.

Altogether 7,632 applications from parents were received by Suffolk County Council indicating which school they would like their child to attend in September of this year.

Increasing pressure for places in primary schools makes it ever harder for every child to get their first choice, and over 600 will not be attending their preferred school. More than 150 haven’t received an offer to any of their chosen schools, 2% of the total.

In some local authorities such as Bristol, nearly a fifth of applicants were denied their first choice.

This year saw an increase of one percentage point of those applying for a place online to 69%.

Almost all of the 305 pupils who applied for a place at a junior school in Suffolk received their first preference while 97% of the 587 who applied for a middle school place got their first choice.

Sue Cook, Suffolk County Council’s director for children and young people, said: “It is extremely good news that so many pupils have received an offer from one of their preferred primary, infant, junior or middle schools.

“All these pupils and their parents will have benefited from submitting their admissions application on time, because as a result they have had the best possible chance of receiving an offer from one of their preferred schools.

“Starting school or progressing from one to another is an important moment for any child, so the more we can do to make the transition right for the student, the better. I wish everyone starting a new school in September the very best.”

Applicants who haven’t secured an offer of a place at one of their preferred schools can appeal to an independent panel, appeals must be lodged by May 20.

Any parents or carers with children born between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010 and who have not yet applied for a school place should contact Suffolk County Council immediately on 0845 6000981.