Areas where half of pupils denied first school choice

ALMOST half of pupils in some areas did not get their first choice of secondary school this year as councils face an immigration-fuelled population rise.

Official figures show applications from parents of 11-year-olds is the highest in eight years – and overall one in six lost out on their favourite school.

It comes amid local authority warnings that the increase in numbers at primary schools is beginning to transfer to secondary schools.

The statistics showed a growth of .8 per cent in the number of applications received this year to 548,000, compared with 533,300 in 015.

In London, which has seen particularly high migration, one in three missed out on their top secondary school choice.

And in some boroughs, barely half got a place at their top school – with many now facing long commutes to schools. The area with the worst record across the entire country is Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, where just 600 students (5 per cent) secured a place at their first choice school.

Across the country, more than 87,000 students (15.9 per cent) missed out, while more than 7,000 (five per cent) of 11-year-olds did not even manage to secure a place in one of their preferred three. Of those who applied, 19,700 (3.5 per cent) did not receive an offer from any of their top six.

By law, councils must find a place for every child by September, but they are not obliged to give parents any of their chosen schools.

The extra pressure on the system this year is likely to mean children are either crammed into super-size year groups or sent to less popular schools far away from their homes.