Children in London missing out on their first-choice school, figures reveal

London is behind the rest of the country when it comes to accepting children at their first-choice school Credit: PA

More children in London than anywhere else in the country are missing out on a place at their first-choice school.

The three secondary schools with the worst rate are all in London:

  • Hammersmith & Fulham (52% first preferences accepted)

  • Westminster (53.4%)

  • Lambeth (57.9%)

Both Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster were also in the bottom three in 2015.

Across England, 84.1% of children were accepted into their first-choice secondary school.

Latest figures from the Department of Education also show large numbers of primary school-level children are missing out on their first choice school.

The two schools with the worst rate are both in London:

  • Kensington & Chelsea (68.3%)

  • Hammersmith & Fulham (71.9%)

Kensington & Chelsea was also bottom last year, when it was down at 59%.

Nationally, 88.4% of children were accepted at their preferred primary school.