A DROP in the number of children of secondary school age in Colchester is good news for parents.

Nearly 95 per cent of youngsters will start at their first or second choice secondary school from September, due to a drop in the population of ten and 11- year-olds in the town.

Essex County Council figures show 79.11 per cent of applicants were offered a place at their first choice school compared to 77.98 per cent last year.

Meanwhile, 15.21 per cent of parents were granted their second choice school compared to 14.46 per cent last year.

The percentage of children who did not get into any of their four preferred schools was 2.59 per cent compared to 2.86 per cent in 2010. Across the county, 83.25 per cent of pupils got their first choice.

County councillor for education, Stephen Castle, said: “Waiting for that all-important secondary school offer can be a nervous time for parents and pupils, and I am delighted so many will be receiving good news.

“I am pleased to see we have been able to accommodate even more pupils into their first choice secondary school.”

However, despite fewer children, some schools in the town are still oversubscribed, while others are fighting even harder to fill their classrooms.

St Helena School, in Sheepen Road, Colchester, saw a 10 per cent increase in parents requesting the school as their first choice.