Now one in six pupils miss out on first choice of secondary

ONE in six children missed out on their chosen secondary school this year, with the proportion rising for the fifth year in a row.

Growing numbers of pupils are being left disappointed because of a record number of applications caused by a baby boom, which has been fuelled by immigration.

The latest official statistics for entry this autumn show 17.9 per cent did not get their first- choice school place this year, compared with 16.5 per cent last year.

It means the percentage granted their top choice secondary school dropped below 83.2 per cent for the first time since 2010/11, after five consecutive falls starting in 2014.

The proportion who received an offer of any of their preferred schools also fell slightly from 96.1 per cent last year to 95.5 per cent this year.

The shortage of places has been caused by a huge surge in applications. For years, primary schools have been struggling with a bulge in the population of young children. Now that problem is transferring onto secondary school pupils.

This year saw the highest number of applications for a secondary place since records began ten years ago, with 582,761 submissions – an increase of 3.6 per cent on last year.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘The drop in first- choice offers shows the pressure building on secondary school places, and this will intensify as the number of secondary pupils is projected to increase by more than 500,000 over the next seven years.

‘It is of paramount importance that the Government ensures sufficient numbers of good school places are provided to meet local needs.’

But the figures show an increase in children receiving an offer for their first-choice primary school – from 90 per cent in 2017 to 91 per cent this year. However, application numbers were down 2 per cent on last year.

The figures come after the Government said the surge in the number of children has been partly caused by migration, as foreign-born mothers have had a higher birth rate.

School standards minister Nick Gibb said: ‘More children will take up a place at their top choice of primary school this September and over eight out of ten secondary pupils secured a place at their top choice of secondary school. We are improving education for every child by helping all great schools to grow.

‘We have created 825,000 school places since 2010 and are investing £7billion to create even more.’