MORE children are missing out on their first choice school, new figures show.

One in five young people in Bolton starting secondary school in September missed out on a place in their preferred secondary school.

And the numbers securing a place at their top school was lower than the England average, according to the department for education figures.

In Bolton 79.8 per cent of primary school leavers will go to the secondary school of their choice, compared to an England average of 82.1 per cent and North West average of 84.5 per cent.

Last year, the numbers of children in Bolton who secured their top choice stood at 82.3 per cent. But the local authority has seen a spike in applications for secondary school places, up by 143 to 3,721.

The authority fared better for the numbers receiving their second or third choice, with both being higher than the national and local averages — with 94.5 per cent of children being given one of their top three preferences, with the national and average standing at 93.8 per cent.

At primary school more than 10 per cent of children failed to get in to their parents' first choice school.

The local authority received 3,718 applications for a place, an increase of 97 on last year.

Eighty-seven per cent of children were given places at the preferred school compared to 89.3 per cent last year.

The national and North West average for children getting their first choice primary was 91 per cent.

But overall 96.3 per cent of children starting primary school will go to one of the three listed schools in September.

Nationally that figure stands at 97.7 per cent and regionally at 97.9 per cent.

The national picture shows that the proportion of children missing out on a place at their top choice of secondary school rose for the fifth year in a row.

It means the percentage of those getting their first choice secondary school dropped to below 83.2 per cent for the first time since 2010/11.

Last night Cllr Nick Peel was due to lead a debate on school places after fears education cuts could mean school places no longer being guaranteed to every child in the borough.

Bolton Council is embarking on a multi-million pound secondary school and primary school expansion programme to accommodate more children.