One in five miss first choice school

NEARLY a fifth of Oldham pupils won’t be starting at their first-choice secondary school in September.

A total of 81 per cent of youngsters got the place they wanted, down from 84 per cent last year. But 92 per cent will go to one of their top three preferences - down four per cent from last year.

And 173 youngsters - seven per cent - failed to get into any of their top six choices.

The figures also show the gulf between the borough’s most and least popular schools. First choice applications outstripped the number of places at Blue Coat, Crompton House, Failsworth, North Chadderton and Saddleworth.

Blue Coat had the highest number of number one choices, followed by North Chadderton. At the other end the three academies run by sponsors — Oasis, Oldham Academy North and Waterhead Academy — proved least popular.

Collective Spirit Free School, which opened in 2013, had 58 first choice applications for 80 places.

At primary level, 90 per cent of pupils will go to their first choice school, the same as last year.