More than a dozen Oldham primary schools were oversubscribed to this school year, according to new figures.

Data released by the government has shown the number of first place preferences put for each school in the borough for the 2023-24 school year, along with the number of places the school offered.

The figures have shown that 17 primary schools, of the 84 for which data was available in the borough, were oversubscribed.

Both Propps Hall Junior Infant and Nursery School and Greenhill Academy were the joint-most oversubscribed schools, with 31 more first place preferences than places offered.

A spokesperson for Greenhill Academy Leaders and the CEO of the Harmony Trust, which runs the school, said: "We're pleased that so many parents in our community chose Greenhill and Harmony Trust  and hope that all the borough's new reception children can get the education they deserve.

"We encourage disappointed parents to contact our other schools in Oldham to see if they have places available as all our schools in the North West work closely together."

Meanwhile St Margaret's CofE Junior Infant and Nursery School had 60 first place preferences but only offered 45 places for this school year.

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The other primary schools in the borough which were oversubscribed: Hodge Clough Primary School, St Martin's CofE Junior and Infant School, St Agnes CofE Primary School, St Anne's CofE Lydgate Primary School, Burnley Brow Community School, Broadfield Primary School, Buckstones Primary School, Fir Bank Primary School, Whitegate End Primary and Nursery School, Roundthorn Primary Academy, Lyndhurst Primary and Nursery School, Greenacres Primary Academy and Coppice Primary Academy

The full list of Oldham secondary schools can be seen below:

Cllr Mohon Ali, Oldham Council Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “We’re pleased that Oldham parents can access good school places for their children, and that our schools and academies work flexibly to accommodate population changes. In 2023, the first-choice preference rate increased to 80.4% for secondaries and remained high at 91.2% for primaries.

‘’Over the next few years, we expect a slight dip in the number of primary aged pupils, but the number of secondary pupils will rise. We have planned for this, with the building of new secondaries at Oasis Leesbrook and Brian Clarke and expansion at Crompton House.

‘’Overall, this means that there will be a supply of good school places in both phases.”

Propps Hall Junior Infant and Nursery School and St Margaret's CofE Junior Infant and Nursery School were approached for comment.