EDUCATION chiefs have attempted to allay fears that pressure on primary school places could mean many parents missing out on their first choice.

Surging birth rates mean demand for school places is greater than ever, while one in five primary schools is already over capacity, according to Labour.

Parents across the region have been selecting their preferred primary schools for their children for the start of the 2015/16 academic year in September. They will learn whether they have been successful with their choices in April.

Caroline O’Neill, head of education at Durham County Council, said: “There is always a high demand for places in some schools across the county and Durham County Council has always been very successful in offering parents their first choice of school.

“Last year 92 per cent of parents were allocated their preferred school and only just over two per cent did not get any of their three choices.

“We do not anticipate any problems this year. Overall, there are enough school places for the number of children seeking a place in a school in County Durham for 2015, but some schools will experience a higher demand than others.’’

The school population bulge is expected to see an extra 880,000 pupils in England jostling for places by 2023, compared to the current academic year.

It has been attributed in part to more older women having children.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said it was endeavouring to ensure it accommodated every primary school-age pupil and was continually assessing demand for places.

The spokeswoman said: “We are aware of an increasing demand for primary places and we have plans in place to address this.

“Recently we have increased places at The Federation of Mowden Schools, St. Bede’s RC Primary School and Skerne Park Academy.

“In addition, plans are in place to request cabinet to release funding to create more primary places in the future.”

Middlesbrough Council said it was experiencing “particularly high demand” for primary school places in several areas, including the town centre.

The Department for Education said it was investing an extra £5bn to create new school places and spending £18bn to improve school buildings.

It said in a statement: “We are tackling an unprecedented increase in demand for school places. This has already led to the creation of more than 260,000 new places with more still to come.”