To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of children were accepted at their first choice of secondary school in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

This year's data on offers of secondary school places was published on 12 March. Figures for Northamptonshire local authority show that 83.7 per cent. of children resident in the authority who are eligible to transfer to secondary school in September 2009, and who applied for a place, were offered their first choice school. Last year this figure was 81.6 per cent.

The figures for England show that 83.2 per cent. of children who are eligible to transfer to secondary school in September 2009, and who applied for a place, were offered their first choice school. The figure for 2008 was 82 per cent.

The full statistical report 'DCSF: Secondary School Applications and Offers' is available at:

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/