COUNTY education chiefs say that close to 80 per cent of 11-year-olds will end up with a place at the secondary school they most wanted in September.

Parents were due to receive letters from Kent County Council today telling them the outcome of their application for a place for their child.

Around 16,500 places have been allocated at the county’s 99 secondary schools and KCC, which now acts as the clearing house for all offers, says 13,000 of those have been be offered their first choice.

Around 90 per cent of children have been offered either their first or second choice of school, a slight increase on last year. Less than seven per cent were allocated a place at a school that they did not name on their application form.

Unlike other parts of the country, Kent says it has experienced no problems co-ordinating the admissions process using new computer software, as it trialled the system for the first time last year.

KCC’s cabinet member for School Organisation Cllr Leyland Ridings said: "Kent had a head-start which has helped enormously in making the system imposed on us more efficient.

"Some children will of course be disappointed with their offer but I am confident that we have in place an effective system of re-allocating vacant places and arranging independent appeals."

The figures compare favourably to last year. Parents unhappy with the offer have until March 21 to lodge an appeal or to ask to go on a "reallocation" list, a process that involves KCC awarding places if they become free on a monthly basis until July. This will run from mid April to early-July.

KCC has arranged a telephone helpline for those with queries. The number is 01622 696565.