Warrington offers children the third best access to outstanding primary school places in the whole of the England, new data shows.

Figures released by education software specialist, The Access Group, showed that out of the 23 outstanding schools in the region, exactly 2,163 children were set to enrol in the highest rated schools next year.

This equating to an impressive 94 children per outstanding primary school.

The figure was calculated as part of the ‘school squeeze campaign’ which aims to reveal which areas of the UK have the most and least number of children entering primary school per each school in that area – also revealing where parents have the best access to outstanding schools.

Data was drawn by taking the number of children set to attend primary school in the 2023/24 academic year and comparing it to the number of outstanding primary schools per local authority.

Rutland came out on top, providing the best access in England followed closely by Essex and Herefordshire, completing in the top three.

Torbay was found to be the most ‘squeezed’ area in England, having only one outstanding primary school in the area per its 1,211 children set to move up to that level.

Followed by Dudley and Peterborough in the top three most squeezed locations.

Jane Gibson, Product Manager (Education) at The Access Group said: “Admissions is a stressful time for parents as your child’s school can have a big impact on their future.

“Even on a smaller scale, if you fail to get into your first-choice school, there’s a risk of being separated from friends, or you might add on extra travel time to get your child to the school gates every morning.

“Schools also often ‘hold their breath’ at this time of year too.

“Pupil numbers can affect their funding, which in turn can lead to difficult decisions regarding staffing levels, budget allocation and more - but with specialist education technology such as school finance software and school payments software, it’s easier to cope with fluctuating numbers and ensure there’s adequate resources to provide a great education.”

Applications for primary school admission for 2023/24 entry close on Sunday 15 January.