Over 70 per cent of Lambeth parents and carers who applied to a secondary school in the borough have been offered a place at their first or second choice school, starting this September. More Lambeth residents have been offered places in Lambeth schools than ever before, and more residents from other London boroughs have been offered places in Lambeth schools.
On the day that parents and carers across London are told which secondary school their children have been offered places at, Lambeth Council has revealed that offers were made to 2,687 applicants this year. This represents an increase of 119 applications since 2016 – the equivalent of 4 extra classes.
The proportion of applications made online is 99 per cent this year, with only 18 paper applications received. The proportion of applicants made online has risen from 50.8 per cent in 2013.
This year, there has been a significant increase in application numbers across London, which has meant that the overall chances of gaining a preference school place has been reduced.
But, despite the pressure on places, Lambeth has been able to offer a secondary school place to every applicant.
Overall, 1,971 children – 73.4 per cent of all applicants – were offered places at their first or second choice school this year. Of those, 1,482 children were offered a place at their first-preference school, and 489 were offered their second preference.
Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Jane Edbrooke, Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, said: “At a time of such pressure on schools, it is a marvellous achievement that we have been able to offer a place to every child who wants to come to a secondary school in Lambeth.
“This used to be a difficult times for families and children, wondering exactly where they’d be starting school in September. But that uncertainty has been taken out of the system and our pupils can now look forward to the next stage of their education with confidence.”
The picture across London
Figures released today by the Pan London Admissions Board, the body with overall responsibility for the co-ordination of school admissions in the capital, show that 87.3 per cent of pupils were offered a place at one of their top three choices of secondary school in London, with 66 per cent getting into their first preference school.
The number of applications made for secondary school places this year was 92,509, a 4.4 per cent increase compared to last year. Over the past two years there has been a 6.4 per cent increase in the number of applications received for places at London secondary schools.
The Board said rising pupil numbers in London will continue to put pressure on secondary schools to expand capacity and recruit more teachers.
