ALMOST nine in ten of the borough's primary school starters will be going to their first-choice school in September — but not everyone is happy.

Last Friday, Bury Local Education Authority (LEA) wrote to parents of 2,388 children who will be starting their school lives in five months, and the results arrived on Monday.

An LEA spokesman said 88 per cent of youngsters will be going to their first-choice school.

Six per cent will be going to their second-choice school and two per cent will be going to their third-choice school.

The remaining four per cent have received an offer of another school place.

Not everyone was satisfied with the outcome.

Becky Mills, of Houghton Street, Bury, asked for her four-year-old son Harvey to go to St Luke's Primary School as first choice, St Peter's Primary School as second choice and Chantlers Primary School as third choice.

However, the LEA was unable to grant her a place at those three schools and have instead given Harvey a place at Heaton Park Primary School — four miles away.

Miss Mills, aged 28, said: "When I read the email, I just burst into tears.

"I live opposite the town hall so to be given a school so far away is absolutely ridiculous.

"I don’t drive and I work as a supervisor in Poundland in the Mill Gate Shopping Centre in Bury.

"Harvey's dad, Liam, was as angry as I was.

"I don't drive and, if our appeal isn't successful, I will have to take four buses a day to Prestwich and back, five days a week for seven years."

Another student, who lives in Woolfold, missed on her first three selections and has been offered a place at Sedgley Park Primary School in Prestwich nine miles away.

One unhappy uncle took to Twitter to voice his concerns. He wrote: "My niece has had all three of her school choices turned down. Bury Council is sending her to a school seven miles away."

The LEA spokesman said that any parent not satisfied with the outcome of their application was able to have their case heard by an appeals panel.

The panel will invite them to a meeting to discuss their case.

If necessary, the matter can also be considered by the Independent Appeals Panel.