ALMOST one in six primary pupils in Lancashire missed out on their preferred secondary school.

Only 83.6 per cent will attend their first choice when the new term begins in September.

The number getting a place at their second preference secondary school or academy is 8.6 per cent while 3.1 per cent got a place at their third choice.

The remaining 4.7 per cent have been allocated a place at another school.

The figures were announced today by Lancashire County Council, which is responsible for education in 12 boroughs including Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

The numbers of those receiving preferred places is likely to rise as appeals are heard and other adjustments are made.

Cllr Phillippa Williamson, the county council's schools, said: "I'm pleased to know that 95.3% will be getting one of their three preferences and 83.6% have their first preference. Importantly, every pupil whose application was received on time has been allocated a secondary school place.

"School places are allocated fairly and objectively, and every application is agreed upon using the criteria which have been agreed for that school.

"There's still a lot of movement with the allocation of school places between now and September."

This year 95 per cent of parents completed their application online.

Last year, nationally, 80.9 per cent of parents received an offer of their first preference school and 93 per cent received an offer of one of their preferred schools.