Just under nine in every ten children in Bolton have been offered a place at their first choice of primary school.

The figures were unveiled by Bolton Council today which show that a total of 3,286 children received an offer for a place at their first choice of primary school, which represents 89 per cent of all children.

This marks a slight fall in per centage terms compared to the year before when 91 per cent were offered places at their first choice, but in 2023 as many as 97 per cent were still offered places with at least one of their preferred schools.

A spokesperson for the council said: “We are delighted that 97 per cent of children in Bolton have been offered a place at one of their preferred primary schools.

“Every effort is made to find an appropriate place for everyone, and no child will need to travel more than two miles to attend school.

The Bolton News: Almost nine in ten children have places at their first preference primary schoolAlmost nine in ten children have places at their first preference primary school (Image: Newsquest)

“The start of school is an exciting time and teachers and staff across the borough will be looking forward to welcoming new pupils to the classroom in September.”

Though the 89 per cent figure for first preference offers is a slight fall from 2022’s figure of 91 per cent, in terms of actual numbers of children the number being offered places at the first choice has risen from 3,203 in 2022 to 3,286 this year.

In total, the 3,571 children were offered at place at any of their preferred primary schools in 2023, coming to 97 per cent.

This again was a slight fall in per centage terms from 2022 when 98 per cent of children received similar offers but represented a rise in the actual numbers of children with 3,435 being given any preference offer in 2022 compared to 3,571 in 2023.

As well as Bolton, children all across the country will be finding out if they were awarded places at the first choice of primary school.

Councils must provide a place for every child who is due to start primary school, so if parents have not been able to get into the school of their choice, they will be allocated a place at another local school that has space available

Bolton-based National Education Union official and experienced teacher Julia Simpkins said that ensuring children could go to school close to their homes was vitally important.

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She said: “It’s just common sense really, children have a life outside of school and so when they make friendship groups within schools it really wouldn’t make any sense if they were living a long way away.

“Plus there’s also the cost of travelling to school to keep in mind and the fact that it just adds so much to the day, so it really is just common sense.”

But the total number of children to be given alternative offers also rose from 76, representing two per cent in 2022 to 120, coming to three per cent, this year.

Anyone who is dissatisfied with their offer can appeal through the school’s admission authority.