Nearly 25,000 children in London did not secure a spot at their first-choice secondary school, though this figure is slightly lower than last year. The proportion of successful applications rose from 70.5% to 71.6%, with 62,677 out of 87,512 applicants being allocated a place at their top-choice school for the upcoming academic year. This left 24,835 Year 6 pupils without their preferred option.

Parents received notification of their child's school placement via email on Monday evening.

According to an analysis by The Standard based on data from the Pan-London Admissions Board, 14 out of 33 London boroughs saw a decline in first-choice admission rates. Notably, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and the City of London experienced significant drops.

There had been speculation that demand for state schools would rise following the introduction of VAT on private school fees, as some families might no longer afford private education. However, admissions data did not show a clear impact from this policy, with other local factors possibly influencing placement difficulties.

Overall, secondary school applications in London decreased by approximately 3,000 (a 3.1% drop) compared to the previous year, though some boroughs saw a slight increase.

Admission rates to first-choice schools declined significantly in several areas, including:

• The City of London, where rates dropped from 77.8% to 65.6%
• Kensington and Chelsea, which saw a decrease from 72.3% to 66.7%
• Westminster, where rates fell from 71.2% to 66.9%

Additionally, securing a first-choice placement became more challenging in boroughs such as Camden, Barnet, Sutton, Bromley, and Croydon.

Conversely, some areas maintained higher success rates. Barking and Dagenham had the highest proportion of first-choice offers (over 87%), followed by Waltham Forest (84%) and Haringey (78%). In contrast, Greenwich, Lewisham, and Hammersmith and Fulham were among the most competitive areas for first-choice placements.

Despite these challenges, more than 90% of students were offered a place at one of their top three choices, and nearly 95% secured a spot at one of their selected schools. Parents are allowed to list up to six preferences. The remaining 5% (4,520 pupils) who did not receive a place at any of their preferred schools were allocated an alternative school.

A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea Council acknowledged the importance of families securing their top choice but noted that it is not always feasible. They reassured that 92% of students in the borough were still offered a place at a preferred school.

Parents unhappy with their child’s school allocation have the right to appeal to an independent panel, with details available through their home borough’s admissions office.

The Pan-London Admissions Board assured that the city has sufficient secondary school places to meet demand, with 94% of schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. Children who did not receive their first-choice placement will automatically be added to the waiting list for higher-preference schools.

Ian Edwards, London Councils' executive member for children and young people, emphasized that most students were placed in one of their preferred schools. He also noted that falling pupil numbers have impacted school resources, and boroughs have worked to ensure adequate placements.

Jon Abbey, chair of the Pan-London Admissions Board, highlighted the fairness of the allocation process, which considers both the number of available spots and school eligibility criteria. He encouraged parents to review their offers carefully and reach out to local admissions teams if they need assistance.

London Councils anticipate a continued decline in demand for secondary school places as families move out of the city. Since school funding is tied to student numbers, schools with low enrollment face financial risks, with some already closing or merging.