More than a third of children in London missed out on their first choice of secondary school, the Pan London Admissions Board has said.

It reported that 86 per cent of the 95,305 pupils who applied to start at a London secondary school this autumn were offered a place at one of their top three preferences, but 34 per cent missed out on their first choice.

The highest proportion of first preference places offered was 77.1 per cent at Havering and the lowest 54.1 per cent in the City of London.

This year saw a 3 per cent increase in applications compared to last year, equivalent to an extra 2,796 pupils but there was a place available for every child.

Over the past two years there has been a 7.4 per cent increase in the number of applications received.

Nickie Aiken, London Councils’ executive member for schools and children’s services, said: “London has some of the finest schools in the country - 94 per cent of the capital’s schools are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted - and parents are incredibly positive about sending their children to school here in the capital.”

Cllr Aiken added: “It is vital that all children in London have access to a high-quality education and London boroughs are working with their local schools to respond to increased demand across the capital for both mainstream school places and those for children with special education needs and disabilities.”