98 per cent of children due to start primary school in London this September have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools.
Overall, 83,796 London children due to start primary school this September received an offer of a school place at one of their preferred schools - 98 per cent of the total number of applicants, according to figures published on National Primary Offer Day 2024 by the Pan London Admissions Board, the body with overall responsibility for co-ordinating school admissions in the capital.
89 per cent of the total number of London applicants - or 76,064 children - secured a place at their first preference school. This is an increase of 0.6 per cent from last year’s figures.
97 per cent of the total number of London applicants – 82,960 children - were offered a place at one of their top three preferred schools, also showing an increase of 0.1 per cent from 2023 figures.
London primary schools received 85,336 applications in total this year, a 2.2 per cent decrease compared to last year. Application numbers vary across boroughs and are affected by a number of reasons, including the falling birth rate across London. Other important factors impacting application numbers include migration, such as families moving due to changes in their circumstances and working patterns, along with the localised effect of the UK leaving the EU in some areas.
Jon Abbey, Chair of the Pan-London Admissions Board, said:
“This year the admissions process has gone smoothly and over 85,000 parents will receive an offer of a preferred school place in the capital - with over 76,000 of those being for their first preference school.
“Challenges such as falling birth rates and family migration from London have led to a continued decrease in demand for school places and resulted in a reduction in total applications this year.
“Boroughs are supporting schools to deal with this challenge, meet the needs of our youngest residents and ensure school places continue to be available where there is demand.
“Each London borough has an admissions team and we are ready to help and support parents with any queries.”
ENDS