Over 5,000 children in County Durham will go to their first choice of secondary school this September. A total of 5,485 applications were made this year, up from 5,162 in 2018, and every single child has been offered a place at a school in the county. Out of these applicants 5,143 have been successfully placed into their first choice, which equates to 93.8 per cent. Overall 98.3 per cent of children have been placed in their first, second or third choice school. Cllr Olwyn Gunn, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “It is fantastic that the vast majority of children in County Durham will go to their first choice of secondary school in September. I wish them the best of luck for their future education.” Parents who applied online will be informed of the school place offered via email. Those who applied in other ways will have been informed via a letter by Tuesday, 5 March. For more information visit: www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions