One in five children applying for secondary places in Waltham Forest missed out on their school of choice.

Figures released by the Pan London Admission Board last week found Waltham Forest council offered 78 per cent of youngsters a place at their preferred school.

The borough had the second highest rate of pupils accepted to their preferred school in London, with the average rate across the capital standing at 68 per cent.

Cllr Grace Williams, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “It is hugely important for us that local families know we are doing all we can to further their children’s education and development by getting them into a school of their choice.

“We are very clear about our commitment to giving young people the best start in life, and ensuring we have enough school places to meet demand is very much part of this.”

For the 2017/18 academic year, the council received 2,713 on-time applications for 3,084 available Year 7 places.

Every child in Waltham Forest will have been allocated a secondary school place once remaining late applications have been processed.

  • Did your child miss out on their preferred secondary school? Let us know: thomas.barnes@london.newsquest.co.uk.