Nearly 95 per cent of Hertfordshire children have been allocated a place at one of their preferred secondary or upper schools.

Most parents and carers in Hertfordshire will be able to access their secondary transfer allocation information this evening from 6pm.

Despite receiving over 500 more applications than in 2013, more children have been allocated their most preferred secondary or upper school - 10,039 compared to 9,755 last year.

In total 12,080 Hertfordshire children have been allocated one of their ranked schools, a success rate of 94.84 per cent.

Chris Hayward, executive member for Enterprise, Education and Skills, said: "Moving on to secondary or upper school is an important step and we work extremely hard to make the applications and allocation process smooth and straightforward.

"I do appreciate that some parents may be disappointed with the school they have been allocated, but would encourage them to visit the school and speak to the headteacher before dismissing the offered place. They may be pleasantly surprised by what they see."

All applicants who have not been offered their first preference school will automatically be placed on the continuing interest list for any Hertfordshire schools named higher on the application form than the school offered.

For more information about the post allocation processes visit www.hertsdirect.org/admissions School places must be accepted by March 17.