A SCHOOLBOY is being denied a place at Harper Green School despite being crowned Super Brain at its annual quiz.

After winning the mock Mastermind competition at the annual Harper Green High Schools quiz, William Murphy, aged, 11, set his heart on going to the high school.

But the Cherry Tree Primary School pupil has been rejected and told to go to Hayward School in Great Lever -- which was not among his three choices -- despite living less than a mile from Harper Green.

William, a karate black belt since he was nine years old, trains with the Dai Ichi Ryu Karate Club which meets at Harper Green and he teaches children and adults there.

His dad Nick Murphy said: "William is very upset. He is very comfortable with Harper Green School because he goes there for karate and he enjoyed taking part in the quiz.

"It seems ridiculous that they awarded him the Super Brain title because he did so well yet he can't get a place at the school which is five minutes' walk from our house.

"He will have to get two buses to go to Hayward which will make it very difficult for him to get back in time for karate and other extra-curricular activities he enjoys like swimming."

At the quiz in December, William was selected by his school to compete with others from Farnworth in a mock Mastermind quick-fire round which he won.

His headteacher Eric Brindle said: "We had about seven or eight pupils who didn't get into their chosen schools but most got in at the second round.

"A couple of youngsters like William have not been accepted. It is just a shame for him that he will not be able to join his friends at a school he will have to walk past every day."

William is the latest pupil to fall foul of catchment area rules which have seen some pupils accepted at Harper Green then rejected when they moved to live nearer.

No one was available for comment at Bolton Council.