RECORD numbers of children across Dorset have been allocated places at their first choice primary school.

Parents across Dorset are celebrating after places were handed out by the local authorities yesterday.

In Dorset a huge 92 per cent of children will be going into their first choice reception class in September with a figure of 96 per cent for children moving from infant to junior schools.

In Bournemouth there were a total of 2,225 applications with 82.3 per cent gaining places at the school of their choice. Almost 7.5 per cent were given their second choice and four-and-a-half per cent their third choice.

But there was disappointment for just under six per cent - around 130 families - who were not given places at any of their top three. They were allocated places elsewhere by the council.

Cllr Nicola Greene, Bournemouth's Cabinet member for Education, said: “It was going to be a huge challenge this year allocating a record number of 2,225 applications received by the initial closing date of January 15. We have put a number of schemes forward to meet the increasing demand for future years.

“Taking very seriously our legal duty to provide enough school places for children, I'm pleased to say this year we have achieved a rise of 7.4 per cent of parents receiving their first choice compared with last year.”

Increasing demand for places in Bournemouth means there will be a further 12 classes available next year and further expansion, including new schools, the following year. More secondary places will be needed from 2016.

Relieved mum Tracy Santoni, whose three-year-old daughter, Isabella, has a place at Lilliput First School, said: “We are really pleased but feel sorry for the people that didn't get in. Luckily all the schools in this area are good.”

And Sarah Hillman breathed a sigh of relief when she discovered her four-year-old son, Lewis, will join big brother Jacob, six, at Christchurch Infants School. “Phew, he got in” she said.

And in Poole 93 per cent got places at their first choice school - 10 per cent more than last year - with five per cent at their second choice and one per cent third.

Cabinet member for Children, Young People and Learning in Poole, Cllr Janet Walton, said all applicants have been offered a school place and added: “It has been possible to offer 99 per cent a place in one of their preferred schools.

“We would encourage families that were not offered a place at a school they named as a preference to visit the school they have been offered and speak to the headteacher about the opportunities available to their child.”