5,000 children miss out on their school of choice

... AND 1,200 FAIL TO GET ANY OF THEIR TOP THREE PREFERENCES

THOUSANDS of children have missed out on a place at their first-choice secondary school.

The vast majority of kids in Greater Manchester were told yesterday that they’ll be attending their favoured school – but more than 5,000 children were left disappointed.

And more than 1,200 were told they hadn’t secured a place at ANY of their preferred schools.

Parents can name three schools on applications, in order of preference, but do not have to specify more than one.

In Manchester, 1,590 kids missed out on their favoured school – around a quarter. Some 508 children – eight per cent – didn’t get a place at any of their preferred schools.

In Oldham, 855 kids didn’t get a place at their favoured school – around 27pc. But every child did get a place at one of their preferences.

In Bolton, 725 missed out on their first choice school – around 19 per cent of 3,820 applications. Some 224 – around 6pc – didn’t get a place at any of their preferred schools.

Some 566 of Tameside applications – 18pc – didn’t land a place at their chosen school, but all 2,983 applicants got a place at one of their preferences.

In Trafford, 514 children were told they won’t be attending their firstchoice school – around 18 per cent. Some 81 kids – around three per cent – weren’t offered a place at any of their preferences.

In Salford, 480 children – 19pc – didn’t get their first choice, with 182 missing out on a place at any of their preferred schools – around 7pc.

Some 162 kids in Rochdale – 6pc – didn’t get a place at their first choice school. Around 6pc – 168 – failed to get any of their choices.

In Wigan, 130 children – around 4pc – didn’t land a place at their favoured school. Just 1pc – 35 pupils – didn’t get a place at any of their preferred schools.

Figures for Bury and Stockport have not yet been made available.