Every child who had an application for a reception place in a Lambeth primary school for September 2025 has been offered one, new figures have revealed on Wednesday 16 April.
This is the 14th consecutive year that over 96 per cent of families have been offered a place at the school of their choice. In Lambeth, for September 2025 entry, 82.89 per cent of applicants (1,759) received their first-choice school and 8.19 per cent (174) their second choice. In total 96.18 per cent of applicants received a preference school.
Parents and carers were asked to list up to six schools of their choice in order of preference. They applied through their home borough for any state school anywhere in England. Lambeth is part of the pan-London system which links with the other 33 London authorities and 5 surrounding Councils. This collaboration enables the process to work smoothly, as most preferences made by Lambeth residents are within London.
Lambeth received 2,122 applications for primary school places this year.
Word from cabinet
Cllr Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “Choosing the first school for your children can be a daunting decision for parents and carers. So, I am really thrilled to see that so many people were able to get their first preference school.
“Schools face the combined challenge of the funding formula, lower birth rates, and outward migration from London due to Brexit and the cost of living crisis. Despite these pressures, our brilliant primary schools are still able to keep doing excellent work and offer over 96% of families a place at their preferred school. This is a great achievement and one they should all be proud of.
“However, it continues to be an extremely challenging time for our schools in Lambeth. The council has been working in partnership with schools across the borough to manage falling numbers. With all our schools working together, we can do all we can together to preserve our hugely valued primary schools and continue to deliver excellent education provision, maintaining a wide choice of school type.”
“We are delighted to welcome new families and new pupils to class, along with their classmates and future friends, in September.”
London primary schools received 83,581applications in total this year, a 2.1 per cent decrease compared to last year, 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.
Across London as a whole, 97.9 per cent of children due to start primary school this September have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools.
To find out more, please visit the Lambeth website.
