Almost every family in Bath and North East Somerset was offered one of their three preferences for primary school places for 2019-20, but first place numbers are down for the first time since 2016.
Figures out yesterday, Tuesday 16th April, showed 99 per cent of applications received one of their overall preferences, with 93.6 per cent getting their first preference of primary school.
The total number of applications received from Bath and North East Somerset residents was 1,790, up 31 for the 18/19 year.
Of them, 1,675 children got their first preference school, 71 pupils were offered their second preference and 26 pupils offered their third preference.
Figures show 18 pupils were not offered a place at any of their preferences and were offered a place at their next nearest school with a place available. This process is known as referrals.
In 2018 the number of children offered their first place was 94.9%.
This year is the first time the figure has dropped since 2016, when 93% were offered their first preference.
Margaret Simmons-Bird, director of Education Transformation, said: “Selecting primary school is an important first step for parents and carers.
“We have a good and effective range of primary schools in Bath and North East Somerset and 99 per cent of applications for this year got one of their overall preferences.”