More than 96 per cent of children will this September go to their first choice primary school – up 1.23 per cent on last year.

Of the 5,131 applications received, 4,927 have been given a place at their number one choice, with 128 their second choice and 26 their third.

Cllr Olwyn Gunn, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer so many children their first choice schools, and to see that number rising year on year.

“We know that for parents, the decision of where to send their children to school is a big one and we look forward to providing our county’s next generation with the high-quality education they deserve.”

Only 50 children were not offered a place at one of their three preferred schools, but have been offered a place at another school as close to their home as possible. Every child who applied has been offered a place at a school in the county.

Parents who applied online will be informed of the school place offered via email by 16 April. Those who applied in other ways will be informed of the school place offered via a letter. For more information about primary school places visit www.durham.gov.uk/education