The number of children offered a place at one of their preferred schools has risen for the third year running.

Across Richmond, 92 per cent of children got a place at one of the primary schools they listed, compared with 92 per cent last year and 89 per cent in 2011.

This means 8 per cent of children and their parents will be hoping for a place from one of the waiting lists in the coming weeks or will start a school they didn’t chose in September.

Councillor Paul Hodgins, cabinet member for schools, said he was delighted with the result but reassured those parents without an offer.

He said: “I know that it can be a worrying time for parents who do not receive an offer on the initial allocations day, but I can assure parents in that position that places will come available from the waiting-lists as responses are received to the offers.

“Last year all applicants received offers well in advance of September and we anticipate that this will be the same as this year.”

Richmond Council made the allocation of reception class offers for the coming school year today, and said the number of children offered a place at their first choice of school also rose.

The council said 76 per cent were offered a place at their first preference primary school, compared with  last year’s figure of 75 per cent and 2012’s figure of 73.5 per cent.

The number of children offered a place at one of their top three preferred schools was 88 per cent - the same percentage as in 2012.

To meet the rising demand for primary school places the council has expanded schools across the borough to provide an additional 21 permanent forms of entry since 2000.

Nelson Primary will again accommodate an extra class in September as a precursor to its proposed permanent expansion in 2014.

Both Marshgate Primary and St Osmund’s Catholic Primary School will provide extra classes as part of their respective shared forms of entry with other schools.

Three new schools will be welcoming their first cohorts of pupils in September – St Richard Reynolds Catholic Primary in Twickenham and the two free schools, St Mary’s, Hampton, and Thomson House, in Mortlake.