MORE than nine out of 10 families received their first preference secondary school placement for September, new figures suggest.

Devon County Council says 93.7 per cent of families who applied for a secondary school place in September have been offered their first preference, compared with 93.5 per cent last year.

In all, 98.4 per cent of families will get one of their three preferences.

This year, 7,142 allocations were made for a place at a mainstream secondary school.

Parents have been notified of their places and the council’s admissions team is available to deal with enquiries.

Devon’s Cabinet Member for schools, Cllr Julian Brazil, said: ‘Devon has always done well to meet people’s school preferences, and this year is no exception.’