MORE than 95 per cent of children in Hertfordshire have been allocated a place at one of their three preferred secondary schools, the county council has announced.

Hertfordshire County Council said 11,860 children will be going to one of their ranked schools, with more than 10,000 getting a place at their first choice.

Parents and carers will receive allocation emails from 6pm tonight (Wednesday). Letters will be sent to families who applied on paper or were not successful in obtaining a place at their first choice school.

County councillor Richard Thake, executive member for education and skills, said: “We all want the best possible education for children in Hertfordshire and the county has excellent schools.

“I do appreciate that some parents may be disappointed with the school they have been allocated, but would encourage them to visit the school and speak to the headteacher before dismissing the offered place. They may be pleasantly surprised by what they see.”

This year’s allocation success rate is slightly up on 2010 – to 95.65 per cent.

But the announcement has been criticised by the Liberal Democrats, who said that in reality there are still around 500 children who did not get any of their preferred school places, with a further 2,270 missing out on their first choice.

Lib Dem education spokesman Cllr Mark Watkin said: “This feels like deja vu. The county council needs to remember that this is about children – children that have been in their education system for the last seven years. The county fails on this year after year.”

School places must be accepted by March 16. The deadline to submit an appeal is 4pm on March 18.

* Did your child get his or her preferred school place? Call the news desk on 01707 384180 or email us at news@whtimes.co.uk