EDUCATION bosses in Bolton have been told to check that no child wrongly missed out on a place at their chosen school — after the local authority changed the school admissions policy midway through the application process.

A mum, whose son was due to start school at the start of this academic year, took her case to Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) after her appeal for a school place was thrown out.

Investigations found that Bolton Council changed the way it decided school admissions mid-way through the application process.

Previously, where there was a tie for a place it would allocate any remaining places to those children whose alternate school would be the greatest distance from their homes.

But, half way through the round of allocations in December 2014 — seven months too late — the council decided to draw lots to determine the places.

In the individual case, the investigation found the council was at fault for allocating the children a place by drawing lots.

But the LGO said the boy would not have been allocated a place at the school even if the proper process has been followed.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We accept the findings of the Ombudsman’s report and we would like to apologise for any misleading information.

"We have checked and can confirm that no children missed out on a school place in the area for September 2015, due to this change to the admissions policy.

"We have reviewed our procedures and put measures in place to ensure this does not happen in the future.”

The mother who took her case the ombudsman said she has lost faith in the appeals process.

Her child was in three way tie for a place.

She said: "The appeals process is not nice to go through, you feel you are being interviewed and told why your child cannot go to the school of your choice.

"This report shows that errors were made.

"The council did not record who drew the lots or who witness this, so it cannot be verified. But it should have been decided on distance.

"The whole thing has been very messy.

"I have another son who is going through the allocations process and it is worrying, I have lost all faith in the system.

"I would urge other parents whose appeals have not been upheld to double check the procedure was followed correctly. The ruling doesn't change anything for me but it may for other parents."

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman, said: “When making changes to policies which affect a wide number of people it is only right and fair that such changes are made with consultation and at the start of the process so that parents have a level playing field when applying for school places."

The LGO said it was is satisfied with the arrangements for 2016/17 admissions.