More than four out of five secondary schoolchildren will be going to their first choice school in September.

Brighton and Hove City Council has announced that 82.38% of pupils will go to their first choice secondary school in September – a slight rise on last year.

In total, more than 95% of schoolchildren in Brighton and Hove have been offered one of their three preferred schools in this year’s secondary school admissions round.

However the number of children who failed to get into any of their top three and will instead start in their nearest school with available places has also increased with 115 schools missing out – an increase of 75% on 2012/13.

The council said in most cases this was the fault of parents had failed to put down their catchment area school or schools as their preference while an increase of 125 in the total number of applications was also a factor.

The council was not able to offer places to 22 children who had put down their catchment area school because of more pupils applying than places available.

The council’s director of children’s services, Pinaki Ghoshal, said: “This has been a good year overall for us in terms of meeting parental preferences.

“However, we are very sorry indeed that we have not been able to offer places to the 22 children who put down their catchment area school.

“Anyone who is unhappy with their school place allocation has the right to appeal.”

Details of how to lodge an appeal are available on our website at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/school-appeals.