Following the primaries, London’s secondary schools were also affected by an exodus of families from the capital, with 4,000 fewer students applying for September entry.
Admissions data released on National Offers Day also showed that 70% of families in London were offered their first choice school, compared with more than 80% nationally.
The fall in applications for year 7 entry reflects a fall in the number of children entering reception classes, which London councils attribute to falling birth rates as well as changes in immigration patterns, family location and the impact of Brexit.
While secondary school applications across London’s 32 boroughs fell by 2.5% compared with last year to 90,300, other major local authorities in England said there was little change or a slight increase in applications compared with 2023.
Birmingham City Council received 14,787 applications for year 7 places, up from 14,449 in 2023, with 71.5% receiving their first choice.
Essex received its highest ever number of applications at 17,039, slightly higher than in 2023, with 84% of those receiving their first choice. The number in Kent dropped to 22,479, with 79% choosing their first choice.
Households outside the south-east are more likely to receive first priority, with 97% in East Yorkshire, 94% in Yorkshire and 88% in Oxfordshire.
Parents can rank their preferences among three to six schools by region, and places are algorithmically determined using each school’s oversubscription criteria so that each child gets the highest priority for which they qualify.
London boroughs have the lowest success rates in the country, with just 62.5% of children in Hammersmith and Fulham gaining their first choice and just 63% in Lewisham. In Barking and Dagenham, 82% chose their first choice, while in the City of London the figure was 78%.
The fall in applications to London secondary schools follows several years of declines in primary school enrollments in the capital.
Ian Edwards, London Assembly’s executive member for children and young people, said: “Boroughs have worked tirelessly with schools to ensure there are enough places to meet the demand for school places across the capital, particularly where pupils This comes against a backdrop of falling numbers and falling enrollment rates. This is having an impact on some schools.
“London’s population has been fluctuating, so birth rates are likely to pick up in due course.
“However, it is difficult to predict when and if this will happen, so local authorities must work closely with communities, schools and other local services in the meantime to ensure we do not lose vital assets, such as schools, that we may need in the future. “
He added: “We remain keen to work with the government to tackle the pressures around secondary school places and ensure all London students have the best start in life.”
Falling figures could squeeze school budgets, with the London council saying it could mean “narrowing the curriculum, offering fewer extra-curricular clubs or reducing the number of teaching and support staff”.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “Providing quality school places is a priority for this government.”
What if there is no place
When Parliament allocates state school places in England, more than four in five children are given first priority. But every year there are people who don’t get a spot in any of their choices, or are unhappy in other ways. The good news is that there are some options before the school year starts in September.
The headteacher of a school in central London said: “Parents need not panic. Don’t refuse any offer at the outset, even if it is not one of your preferences, as this means you have excluded yourself from the system.”
waiting list Add your child’s name to the waitlist for other schools you list, even if you accept other offers as well. A person in charge said: “Especially in cities, there will be a lot of activities until September. Families with degrees can move, they can study in another school, or choose to go to a private school.”
Research shows that the number of children entering first choice or priority schools increases significantly after offers day, particularly in London.
appeal Dissatisfied parents can appeal to an independent panel under rules set by the government, details of which are available from each local authority.
Parents will need to show evidence that their child should be offered a place based on the school’s oversubscription criteria, or have some other compelling reason, such as the child’s education, health and care plans or severe transport difficulties.
second thought The headteacher advises parents to take a closer look at the school they attend, visit the school and even read Ofsted inspection reports.
“Some parents may be put off by local gossip or the outdated school image. Visiting the school is the best way to see it for yourself,” said a person in charge.
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