One in five children were learning today that they have not been offered a place at their first choice secondary school for September.

Bradford pupils can expect a tougher deal than in many other parts of the country, according to a snapshot survey of local authorities.

Responses from 23 councils out of about 150 reveal that 87 per cent of children have been awarded their first choice this year.

Bradford Council received applications for places for 6,752 children and has offered 78.57 per cent places at their first choice – almost the same as 78.5 per cent last year.

Councillor Ralph Berry, the Council’s executive member for children’s services and education, said the figures were an achievement.

“It’s higher than some areas of the country,” he said.

“I’m expecting there to be some pressures in particular areas where the population is growing, such as in BD3, and there was another 200 children in the system this year than we were expecting. Unfortunately the plug was pulled on attempts to make up the capacity we need for the future with the Building Schools for the Future programme but the fundamental priority is to find a place for every single child.

“I think the figure is an incredible achievement under the circumstances.”

Parents applying for secondary school places list three preferred schools. The proportion of children who were allocated a place at one of their parents’ three preferences was this year up 0.5 per cent to 95.1 per cent.

The Council’s children’s services overview and scrutiny committee was today due to consider whether to recommend increasing the number of application preferences from three schools to five.

It will also consider if plans to shake up the admissions policy for Ilkley Grammar School should be scrapped.

A consultation on the future of admissions at the school after years of problems led to controversial proposals from Bradford Council to set up a feeder school system, giving priority admission to pupils at eight local primary schools.

e-mail: ben.barnett@telegraphandargus.co.uk