ALMOST one in five of children in Blackburn with Darwen borough starting at a new school in September have not been accepted into their parents' first choice.

Newly-released figures from the Department for Education show that 83 per cent of children beginning either primary or secondary education will be joining their preferred school, a similar rate to those who started in 2017.

The data shows that of the 1,945 children who have applied to start Year 7 in one of the area's secondary schools, 78.1 per cent will be joining their first choice.

The figure for primaries is 88.4 per cent.

This compares with 85.8 per cent and 90.6 per cent respectively for children attending schools run by Lancashire County Council which provides education in 12 boroughs including Ribble Valley, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale and Chorley.

It is also below the North-West average of 84.5 per cent for secondary schools and 91.5 per cent for primaries.

In Blackburn with Darwen, parents were allowed to provide up to three preferences for their children's secondary school, and 94.9 per cent of children were accepted into one of these (the regional average) compared to 95.9 per cent in the Lancashire county area.

For primaries in Blackburn with Darwen, 98 per cent were accepted into one of their first three preference above both the North-West average of 97.8 per cent and the county council figure of 97.9 per cent.

Cllr Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen Council education boss, said: "Some schools are more popular than other and some have better results. Our aim is make all out schools good or outstanding but there can be demographic reasons for why some are over-subscribed.

"We do have school places for every child.

"Having more control over admissions to academies and free schools would help the council and parents."

Cllr John Slater, borough Conservative group leader said: "This is not good enough, Parents should have a choice of schools and if academies are better they will choose them. The answer is to improve standards at the council's schools."

County Cllr Susie Charles, LCC's cabinet member for schools. said: "Careful planning means almost 98 per cent of pupils have been allocated a place at one of the schools they preferred, with the majority getting a place at the school they wanted the most. School places are allocated fairly and objectively."

Richard Watts of the Local Government Association said: "As we have previously warned, these figures show demand is reducing in primary schools but increasing in secondary schools. With nearly 70 of secondary schools now academies or free schools, the lack of any council power or influence over the expansion and admissions policies of academies and free schools is a real concern."