The figures, released on Offer Day, Wednesday 1 March, revealed that H&F is London's worst performing borough with 46.5% of pupils missing out on their first choice.

The figures, from the Pan-London Admissions Board, showed that altogether, 88,601 pupils applied for secondary school places, up by 2% from last year.

Of these, 69% were offered their first preference school, and 89% were offered one of their top three choices.

However, the figures, which can be downloaded here reveal that in our borough, just 52.2% of pupils were offered their first choice.

Another 14.10% were offered their second choice and 8.75% their third choice.

Further down the list, 4.21% were offered fourth choice, 3.12% their fifth and 1.71% their sixth.

Figures for those who were not offered any of these choices are not available for individual boroughs but across London, 6% — or around 3,701 pupils — missed out on all six of their chosen schools, meaning some children will be forced to attend under-performing schools, sometimes in a neighbouring borough. 

In its brochure Moving On Up H&F Council gives some examples why an offer may not be made if a school is oversubscribed:

Other applicants live closer to the school and distance is the tie-breaker.
You applied for Church school(s) but other applicants met a higher faith category requirement which meant lower categories in the criteria were not reached.
You live outside of a priority area for a school. Places can only be offered beyond the area if places are available.
You live close to the school or met the faith criteria but the tie breaker used is random allocation (lottery)

The council says that the child’s name is automatically added to the waiting list for any Hammersmith & Fulham schools that could not be offered and parents can also appeal to an independent appeal. There is more information on that process on the council's school admissions page.

Sara Williams, chair of the Pan-London Admissions Board, said: "It is important to recognise that not all parents and pupils can be offered their first preference, because in some schools, the demand for places outstrips supply. 

"There are, however, sufficient places in London schools to meet overall demand and the scheme ensures that parents receive an offer for the school which is highest in their list of preferences for which they are eligible under the admissions criteria."

March 5, 2017