Across England, 8% of primary school applicants and 17% of secondary school applicants did not get a place at their first choice school, affecting nearly 150,000 children in total.
In the South East, 8.8% of applicants did not get into their first choice primary school and 16.7% did not secure a place at their preferred secondary school. This meant 8,312 primary and 16,978 secondary aged children did not get a place at their first choice school.
Inner London was found to have the hardest schools to get into in the country. One in every eight children (13%) did not get into their first choice primary school. This rose to one in three (33%) for secondary school places.
Inner London was found to have the hardest schools to get into in the country. One in every eight children (13%) did not get into their first choice primary school. This rose to one in three (33%) for secondary school places.
![St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School had 62 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 57 of these were offered places. This means 5 or 8.1% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJjNjQwNGVkLTA1MDgtNDE5My1hY2RkLTQ1NDYxZjJmNDU2NDpmYmFiYmJhMC1hODg4LTQ2NTAtYjE1ZC1kN2ZhNzI0YmQ0YTM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
17. St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School, Bexhill
St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School had 62 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 57 of these were offered places. This means 5 or 8.1% did not get a place. Photo: Contributed
![Pebsham Primary Academy had 29 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 27 of these were offered places. This means 2 or 6.9% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmM1NDJjZmVhLWUyZTktNDRmYi1hZWUwLTI0NzEyOTU1Mjk5YjpiYjExZGJhYi0yNzExLTRlYTctODU2ZS03ZGI0YzQwMTdlOWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
18. Pebsham Primary Academy, Bexhill
Pebsham Primary Academy had 29 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 27 of these were offered places. This means 2 or 6.9% did not get a place. Photo: Staff
![Churchwood Primary Academy had 31 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 29 of these were offered places. This means 2 or 6.5% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ4OTQyYjRjLWFhMjMtNGIwOC1iMTUzLTIwYmY5ZWRlNGE3NzplMjIxNGYwMy0zNGRhLTQyMWQtODE3Zi03MTA1NzM4MzljYWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
19. Churchwood Primary Academy, Hastings
Churchwood Primary Academy had 31 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 29 of these were offered places. This means 2 or 6.5% did not get a place. Photo: Google
![Little Common School had 87 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 85 of these were offered places. This means 2 or 2.3% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJjYjU3OWEwLWVhNWUtNGU2MC05OWM1LTA2ZWY2ZmRhM2I2MDo2NGFjZjRiMS0xYzRlLTQxMjktYjQ5ZS01Mzc0NzZiYjM2NzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
20. Little Common School, Bexhill
Little Common School had 87 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 85 of these were offered places. This means 2 or 2.3% did not get a place. Photo: Staff