Rising Competition for School Places Leaves Many Without First Choice

In densely populated areas, particularly London, parents face increasing difficulty securing their children's first-choice school despite paying premiums for housing in desired catchments.

A third of parents in inner London did not secure their child's first-choice secondary school for the 2023-2024 school year, with the average house price in these areas nearing £830,000.
Despite a decrease in applications, nearly 30% of London pupils will not attend their top preference secondary school this year.
In contrast, areas like the North East, where house prices are lower, saw a higher likelihood of children getting into their preferred schools.
Local authorities across England, excluding London, report a mixed trend with some areas seeing an increase in first-choice admissions compared to last year.
School leaders call for government action to address the oversubscription issue and ensure adequate school places for all children.