More than 1,000 children have been offered Year 7 places at Isle of Wight secondary schools, ahead of the new term which starts in September,

The Isle of Wight Council says 96 per cent of parents have been offered a place at one of their preferred options - two per cent more than last year.

In total, 1,211 applications were received on time.

Of those, 1,030 (85 per cent) received their first choice, 114 (nine per cent) their second choice,  and 22 (three per cent) their third choice.

Those getting first choice places has gone up by five per cent compared to 2023, but two per cent fewer families got their second choice pick.

Those allocated their third choice place remained the same, year on year.

Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Isle of Wight Council's cabinet member for children's services, education and skills, said: “We strive to make the application process as easy as possible, in cooperation with our Island schools, while accommodating families’ choices in the majority of cases.

"I appreciate how tough the transition can be from primary to secondary and how crucial pupil choice is in both preserving existing friendships and local, community links.”

Parents who have applied for a primary school place for their child will be notified on April 16, 2024.