School children around Kent will learn later today which secondary school they will attend in September.

Education authority Kent County Council (KCC) says this year 96% will receive an offer from one of their four preferred schools.

KCC claims it represents the highest proportion of the cohort in the last five years.

Cabinet member for education Cllr Rory Love (Con) said the overall outcome for students entering the secondary sector was "pleasing".

Parents will learn of the school allocated to their child by 4pm but they can remain on a waiting list should they not get their preferred option. The deadline is March 15 with second round of offers on April 25.

According to KCC figures, a total of 22,479 parents and carers applied for a place for their child in a Kent school for September 2024.

This is 141 fewer than last year, and the number of Kent pupils applying has decreased by 474, falling from the historic peak in 2023.

The number of children offered a place at their first-preference school has increased this year to 78.6%, although the numbers are lower by 294 at 14,571.

The proportion of the cohort offered their second, third or fourth preference has also increased slightly on last year to 17.4%, or 3,219.

Cllr Love added: “It is pleasing to see that 96% of children starting at secondary school in September will be going to one of their preferred schools.

“As always, I pay tribute to our dedicated officers in the KCC admissions team who have been working tirelessly to make sure we allocate school places to more than 22,000 pupils.

“Every year there is a small number of youngsters for whom it has not been possible to offer one of their preferences because their preferred schools are over-subscribed.

“Parents of those who have been offered a school they did not select are advised to speak to staff at that school before making a decision, as they may well find the school is the perfect match for their child.

“I wish pupils every success in the rest of their final year of primary school and I wish them well as they get ready for the move to secondary school.”

On those pupil’s missing out on their desired school, a KCC statement said: "Every year a number of children cannot be offered a place in one of their preferred schools and KCC will support these families by allocating them a place at an alternative school.

"The proportion of children in that position this year is the lowest in the last five years, at just 4% or 743 children.

"Parents and carers can also appeal directly to the admissions authority of any school that could not offer their child a place."