Thousands of children denied first choice of primary school

Almost 15,000 children in London have been turned away by their first choice of primary schools this year as the recession pushes state education to the brink of crisis.

An Evening Standard investigation reveals the intense competition among parents applying to the capital's best state schools.

It found that one family in five was rejected by their preferred primary school this year, despite councils creating an extra 2,500 places and that 5,500 children were rejected by all their choices. All children must be found a place at another school by their local council.

The explosion in demand has been blamed on parents becoming increasingly discerning and growing numbers choosing free education instead of paying private school fees. In most cases parents are encouraged to list three or four schools in order of preference.

But an estimated 14,800 children were refused reception class places for September by their first choice. The survey, based on responses from 28 of London's 32 boroughs, found:

In the most popular areas up to 30per cent of parents were rejected by their preferred school, leaving one in six without a place at any of their chosen primaries.

Across London, 18.5 per cent of children were refused a place at their first choice, with 6.9per cent rejected by all their preferences.

Councils are creating 2,536 extra places for September, an average of three school classes in each borough, to meet increased demand.

Many disappointed families have lodged appeals or are waiting for spaces to become free. Jessica Gulliver, from East Dulwich, said her four-year-old son Oliver had been refused places at all his chosen primaries and now faces a 45-minute journey using three buses to reach a school two miles away.

"His friends are going to schools locally," Ms Gulliver, 33, said. "He is quite distressed and subdued. He keeps asking which school he's going to and I have to say, 'I don't know yet.' I feel we are in a nightmare and I don't know what to do." Parents applying to schools in Hammersmith and Fulham had the lowest chance of success, with 15.5 per cent failing to win a place at their preferred schools. In Kensington and Chelsea 14 per cent of applications were rejected by all choices.

Councils will have to find spaces for those four and five-year-olds who have missed out on all their chosen schools. Many parents will then face a choice between accepting a less popular primary or paying to go private.

Analysts at the Good Schools Guide said the competition was partly the result of a discerning attitude from parents. Boroughs with the best schools were becoming victims of their own success.

The London Councils lobby group has called on the Government to provide "emergency funding". Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "London schools outperform others. By providing more good schools we are giving parents more choice, and we will continue to invest."