THOUSANDS of parents in Bolton will be celebrating today with almost nine in ten children being accepted into their chosen primary school.

But more than 100 children did not secure a place at one of the top three preferred schools.

Hundreds of thousands of four and five-year-olds across England will today learn which primary school they will be attending from this September, on what is commonly known as primary National Offer Day.

In Bolton 88.68 per cent — slightly lower than last year's 89.08 per cent — or 3,346 children will be placed at their parent first choice school.

Bolton Council sifted through a total of 3,773 applications — which were down for the second year running, this time by 37.

A place has been found for every child.

A further breakdown of figures show that 256, or 6.79 per cent, of children were placed at their parents' second choice with 57, or 1.51 per cent at their third choice.

The numbers of children who did not receive a place at one of the three choices specified stood at 114, 3.02 per cent, lower than last year's 3.05 per cent, 116 children.

The numbers of children being placed at the first choice school is likely to increase as parents appeal the decision.

A council spokesman said: “We work very hard each year to offer parents one of their three preferred schools and this year 97 per cent of applicants were awarded one of their choices.

"We urge parents to apply online for school places and we encourage them to study the accompanying guidance to ensure the process is as quick and as simple as possible for them.

"No parent who has applied has been left without a place for their child and where we are unable to offer parents one of their top three preferences we have been able to offer an alternative.”

The council has invested more than £35 million over the past seven years creating over 4,000 new places in primary schools.

Nationally the country is said to be facing continued pressure on school places, particularly for primary-age children, fuelled in part in recent years by a rising birth rate, combined with the effect of immigration in some areas.

Ahead of National Offer Day, Labour released new statistics which it said shows that the numbers of young children being taught in classes of over 30 pupils has reached its highest level for 15 years.