A record number of children applied for a place to start at a Kent secondary school this September.

KCC received 18,193 applications, compared with 17,658 last year, with 95% of parents making their application online.

In the initial round, 81% of applicants received an offer at their first choice of secondary school, and 96% were offered a place at one of their four choices. This compares with 84% and 97% respectively last year.

Education cabinet member Cllr Roger Gough said: “Providing families with their preferred choice of school has been more challenging this year. Even so, 12,796 families will receive their first choice and 1,612 their second.

“We have seen a greater increase than expected in the number of children from outside Kent applying for a Kent secondary school place and although this is a credit to our schools and their growing popularity, it makes meeting parental preferences ever more challenging.”

Of the 18,193 applications received, 2,299 were from parents who do not live in Kent (2014: 1,991), and about a third (757) were offered a place at a Kent school.

Cllr Gough said: “Sadly there are always instances where we are unable to offer parents one of their preferred schools.

“I would like to reassure parents that this is the very first stage of the school allocation process and that a specialist KCC team is on hand to help with any queries they may have. There will be considerable movement through waiting lists and the appeals process between now and September.”

For information on how to join a waiting list or appeal, visit www.kent.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions

A second round of offers will follow on April 22.