THE borough's rate of sixth-formers progressing to top universities is one of the best across Greater Manchester but lags far behind the top achieving district.

According to Department for Education figures, 15 per cent of the borough’s key stage five pupils ended up at Russell Group universities.

This compares favourably to the national average of 12 per cent but is around half the rate of Trafford, which has GM’s highest; 29 per cent.

Town hall education chiefs said there were "proud" of student attainment rates but acknowledged there is room for improvement, starting with a focus on early years education.

The figures only count children studying at state-funded schools and colleges. The Russell Group universities include Cambridge and Oxford as well as other top institutions like Manchester, Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Nottingham, York, and the London universities.

James Winterbottom, director for children’s services at Wigan Council, said: “While we have one of the highest proportion of students (in GM) who go on to study at top universities we are striving to make sure that even more have the opportunity to access world class higher education.

“That starts right from the beginning of life by increasing the number of children who are ready for school and continues with outstanding educational and community facilities in the borough; fostering an environment where children can aspire to study at the top institutions.

“This support not only benefits those who want to continue their studies at university, every young person will reap the rewards of an education system and a community that are designed to help them achieve their dreams.”

The data, published this week, relates to students who went on to university in 2016-17. Figures for 2017-18 will be published next year.

The ‘lag’ is due to the time it takes to audit the figures, as well as to see whether pupils who start at a particular university actually stay there.

Trafford’s figure is by far the best across GM, with Salford trailing behind the rest with five per cent.

In Manchester, 16 per cent of state-school sixth formers end up at Russell Group universities. Oldham joins Wigan on 15 per cent, in Stockport the rate was 13 per cent, in Bolton 12 per cent, in Bury and Rochdale 10 per cent, and in Tameside nine per cent.

The figures, compiled by the Reach data unit, show Wigan’s rate has remained at the 15/16 per cent mark for the last three years.