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| Higher proportion of pupils fail to get top choice of secondary school | Higher proportion of pupils fail to get top choice of secondary school |
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| One in six 11-year-olds in England did not secure preferred place in 2017, although there was less pressure on primaries | |
| Sally Weale Education correspondent | |
| Tue 13 Jun 2017 14.36 BST | |
| Last modified on Tue 13 Jun 2017 14.50 BST | |
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| The proportion of pupils who failed to get into their top choice of secondary school in England increased this year as a result of growing demand for places, according to official government figures. | The proportion of pupils who failed to get into their top choice of secondary school in England increased this year as a result of growing demand for places, according to official government figures. |
| Around one in six 11-year-olds (16.5%) did not get their first preference – up from 15.9% last year – as secondary schools struggled to accommodate the highest number of applications in almost a decade. | Around one in six 11-year-olds (16.5%) did not get their first preference – up from 15.9% last year – as secondary schools struggled to accommodate the highest number of applications in almost a decade. |
| The figures are official confirmation of data from national offer day in March when half a million families were told which secondary school had offered their child a place for September. | The figures are official confirmation of data from national offer day in March when half a million families were told which secondary school had offered their child a place for September. |
| Demand – and disappointment – was at its peak in London. In boroughs such as Hammersmith & Fulham only just over half of applicants got into their top choice of school. | Demand – and disappointment – was at its peak in London. In boroughs such as Hammersmith & Fulham only just over half of applicants got into their top choice of school. |
| Those applying to primary schools across the country had more luck, with applications down by 3.3% on last year and less pressure on places. Nevertheless one in 10 applicants failed to secure a place at their first choice of primary school – while 97.7% were offered a place at one of their preferred schools, up from 96.9% in 2016. | Those applying to primary schools across the country had more luck, with applications down by 3.3% on last year and less pressure on places. Nevertheless one in 10 applicants failed to secure a place at their first choice of primary school – while 97.7% were offered a place at one of their preferred schools, up from 96.9% in 2016. |
| The figures, published on Tuesday, show that a population bulge that has been putting enormous pressure on primary schools in recent years is now increasingly affecting secondaries, where applications were up 2.6% on last year. | The figures, published on Tuesday, show that a population bulge that has been putting enormous pressure on primary schools in recent years is now increasingly affecting secondaries, where applications were up 2.6% on last year. |
| Secondary schools received 562,487 applications in total – the highest since 2008. As a result the proportion of children offered a place at one of their preferences dropped slightly to 96.1% in 2017, from 96.5% in 2016. Competition was lightest in Northumberland, where 98.2% of pupils got their first choice, followed by Cornwall (97.3%) and Bedford (96.8%). | Secondary schools received 562,487 applications in total – the highest since 2008. As a result the proportion of children offered a place at one of their preferences dropped slightly to 96.1% in 2017, from 96.5% in 2016. Competition was lightest in Northumberland, where 98.2% of pupils got their first choice, followed by Cornwall (97.3%) and Bedford (96.8%). |
| Primary schools received 620,330 applications, down from 641,572 last year, following a drop in the birth rate in 2013. Many pupils in areas of continuing high demand were still disappointed, however; the lowest rates for primary age children getting their first preference were in Kensington & Chelsea (68.4%), Hammersmith & Fulham (75.2%) and Reading (78.9%). | Primary schools received 620,330 applications, down from 641,572 last year, following a drop in the birth rate in 2013. Many pupils in areas of continuing high demand were still disappointed, however; the lowest rates for primary age children getting their first preference were in Kensington & Chelsea (68.4%), Hammersmith & Fulham (75.2%) and Reading (78.9%). |
| A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The vast majority of parents continue to secure a place at their first choice of school for their child, 86.9% this year – with more than 95% having received offers at one of their top three choices. | A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The vast majority of parents continue to secure a place at their first choice of school for their child, 86.9% this year – with more than 95% having received offers at one of their top three choices. |
| “There are already 1.8 million more children in good or outstanding schools than 2010, but we want to do more to ensure every child has access to a good school place.” | “There are already 1.8 million more children in good or outstanding schools than 2010, but we want to do more to ensure every child has access to a good school place.” |
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