Parents are less likely to get their children into their first-choice primary school due to a “crisis” shortage of places in London, experts have warned.
More than one in five — 22 per cent — this month failed to get into the school they most wanted and the problem is set to worsen from next year.
It has been caused by a cumulative £1 billion shortfall in the amount of government cash given to the capital’s schools to allow them to expand to meet soaring demand for places.
This has been fuelled by a baby boom, increased demand for places from new “economic immigrants” from EU countries, fewer Londoners moving to the Home Counties and a drop in the number of middle-class parents sending their children to independent schools since the 2007/8 banking crisis.
Frankie Sulke, children’s director at Lewisham council, said 90 per cent of applicants across London got one of their top three preferences, with 78 per cent getting their first preference, in this year’s new intake.
But she warned a City Hall inquiry: “I think that will go down.
“Journeys are going to get longer. Choice will be diminished.”
London Councils estimate the capital needs an extra 83,470 places over the next three years.
But local authorities can only expand existing premises and have no control over the setting up of new schools, which can only be academies or free schools, the London Assembly probe was told.
