BBC News Family & Education

One in three children in London missed out on a place at their top choice of secondary school, figures from the Pan London Admissions Board show.

Across the capital's 33 boroughs, only 66% of families were given their first choice of secondary school this year - the equivalent to 62,453 children - compared with 68% last year.

Hammersmith and Fulham had the lowest proportion of children receiving their top choice, at 57.5%, and in Greenwich 59.9% secured their first preference.

'Stable'

The fall in the number of first-choice places in some areas may have been caused partly by delays to grammar school tests amid Covid-19 disruption.

Normally families are told their child's entry test score before the admissions deadline in October so they can decide whether to apply to the school.

But this year many selective schools could not confirm places until after the deadline as they had to push back the tests in the autumn due to Covid-19.

Elizabeth Campbell, London Councils’ executive member for Schools & Children's Services, said the figures have remained stable compared to last year, suggesting "the vast majority of families have been able to apply for their child’s school place despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic".