One third of London pupils fail to get into first-choice secondary

Almost 80,000 children have failed to secure a place at their first choice of secondary school, according to figures released today.

The problem is worst in London, where only 66 per cent of pupils were allocated places to start at their top choice of school in September, compared with the national average of 85 per cent.

In some London boroughs, including Southwark and Wandsworth, just over half of pupils got into their first-choice school, according to the figures from the department for education.

Slough is the worst local authority for meeting parents' wishes on secondary school places, followed by Southwark and Wandsworth.

The North-East had the best success rate, with 94 per cent of children getting into their first choice.

The figures relate to the 500,000-plus children due to start secondary school in September who were allocated places this month. The percentage securing their first choice has increased by 1.4 percentage points compared with last year.

Nationally, just over 95 per cent of pupils were given a place at one of their top three preferred schools - a 0.7 percentage point increase on last year.

But 22,000 children did not get into any of their top three choices.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said: "These figures expose the fact that there simply aren't enough good schools. Too many parents are forced to choose between schools which don't deliver the academic standards and good behaviour they demand.

"Only when every school is regarded by parents as a good school will we be able to remove the anxiety parents suffer when choosing a school for their children."

In London, Bexley had the highest percentage of first-preference offers, at 91 per cent, followed by Newham at almost 80 per cent.

Experts said rejection rates in some London boroughs were the highest in the country because schools in the capital are so oversubscribed.

Parents in London must apply to the Pan London Admissions Board stating their six preferred secondary schools.

Admissions board chairman Chris Kiernan said: "However proficient the admission system is - and our arrangements in London are about as efficient and fair as it is possible to have - it cannot create additional places at the most popular schools."