MORE children missed out on their first choice of primary school this year.

Reading Borough Council revealed on Wednesday the percentage of parents allocated their first choice of primary school dropped, despite a record number receiving places.

A total of 2,210 applications were made, up from 2,138 last year, and 75.7% of parents secured their first choice, compared to 77.4% in 2013.

For the second year running, every child was offered a place in the borough, but more than 170 parents have had to settle for their third or fourth options.

According to the latest census figures, Reading’s population has boomed and the town has seen the second highest rise in children aged up to four in the South East since 2001.

Council bosses are pumping £64 million into 13 primary schools to cope with rocketing demand and it is hoped this will create 2,520 places over the next seven years.

Reading’s head of education Kevin McDaniel said: “It has once again been a challenging year to cater for the continuing increased demand for school places.

“This is the first year where some of those permanent expansions have fed directly into the primary school application process and it is reassuring that the investment programme is beginning to have a positive effect.

“Reading is an attractive place to live, find work and go to school, and increases in the birth rate and families moving to this and neighbouring boroughs are adding to school place pressures.

“We know that we will face similar pressures in the coming years but we are working hard to provide the best possible quality primary school education for every family that needs it, regardless of where in the town they live.”

Parents wanting to discuss their offer should call the council’s admissions team on 0118 937 3777.