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 North West, 15% did not secure a place at their preferred secondary school. This meant 12,808 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.

9. Fred Longworth High School
Fred Longworth High School saw 331 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 258 of these were offered places. This means 73 did not get a place. Photo: Google

10. The Deanery
The Deanery Church of England High School saw 348 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 230 of these were offered places. This means 118 did not get a place. Photo: Google

