IN A pre-emptive strike, the county council is claiming that over 95 per cent of secondary age children in Herts have got a place at one of their preferred schools. Notification letters have gone out by first class post today and the 87 per cent of parent

IN A pre-emptive strike, the county council is claiming that over 95 per cent of secondary age children in Herts have got a place at one of their preferred schools.

Notification letters have gone out by first class post today and the 87 per cent of parents who registered online will be able to access their decision from early this evening.

This year just under 12,000 children in Herts have been allocated one of their ranked schools, bringing the success rate up to 95.48 per cent - an increase of 2.63 per cent over 2009. Just over 80 per cent have gained a place at their first ranked school.

But St Albans, as one of the most contentious areas in the county, had scores of children with no place at any of their preferred schools in 2009 and local campaigners fear the situation is not expected to be too much different this year.

Richard Thake, the county council's executive member for education and skills, said they had been working closely with schools in the Harpenden area which has had particular problems and had created 27 additional places within three oversubscribed schools for 2010/11

He added: "In the long term we are seeking to increase capacity in South West Hertfordshire so that more children get a place at a preferred local school.