Families who failed to get their first choice for primary school for their children starting education in September are being advised by Tower Hamlets Council how to appeal and about finding alternative places.

Around 97 per cent of children start their education in September at a ‘preferred choice’ Tower Hamlets school, figures out this week show.

Nearly 3,000 families have their first preference in 89 per cent of all applications.

“Some families will still need advice about other options,” the council’s children’s services director Debbie Jones said. “We have a very low number of pupils that needed to be given an alternative school.

“Advisers are on hand to help parents understand options available, including making an appeal, how to secure a place on the waiting list, and how to make a further application.”

But successful placings for Tower Hamlets schools for most parents is an improvement on last year and among the best for all London boroughs.

Only 2.4 per cent of applications were unsuccessful in getting their preferred school and have had to be allocated a place by the council.