Hundreds of children from west London have been left in the wilderness this week after being rejected from all six of their preferred secondary schools.

Yet again, pupils in Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster face an uncertain future after the annual school admission process finished on Tuesday.

More children from these three boroughs were left without places compared to the London average.

Despite the opening of the new Chelsea Academy, planned for Lots Road, later this year, Kensington and Chelsea children faired the worst. A total of 11.86 per cent of applicants were left without a school and just 60.15 per cent got their first choice in the Royal Borough, where pressure is building to create a new school for North Kensington.

But it is in Hammersmith and Fulham that the greatest number of disappointed children live. Around 10.63 per cent of the 1,128 pupils who applied were left without a secondary places. This means that 120 youngsters do not know where they will be studying in September.

The borough of Westminster did slightly better, with 64.42 per cent of children getting their first choice and 8.42 per cent, or around 94 pupils, being left out in the cold.

Across London, an average of 66.05 per cent of applicants got their first choice, and 6.21 per cent were given no place.

Despite the pressure on west London boroughs, the chairman of the London Inter Authority Admissions Group Graham Carter defended the system.

He pointed out that across London, more than two thirds of pupils were offered their first choice school.
Mr Carter added: "Chosing a secondary school is one of the most important decisions a parent will make for their child."


                                 1st choice %           2nd-6th choice %      none of their choices %
H&F                             61.82                              27.55                 10.63 (120 children)
K&C                             60.15                              27.99                 11.86 (80 children)
Westminster                 64.42                              27.16                  8.42 (94 children)
London average             66.05                              27.74                   6.21