Thousands of children miss out on their first choice of secondary schools due to an “unfair postcode lottery”.

       On Monday, hundreds of thousands of families across the country found out which school their child will be joining this September - a day commonly known as National Offer Day.

       14 councils have seen a decline in pupils getting their preference as nearly three in 10 children in London missed out on a place at their top choice of secondary school, figures have shown. Meanwhile, the number of applications for schools in the capital fell by 3.1% compared to last year.

       Prior to National Offer day, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union the NAHT, predicted there will be “too many cases” where children miss out on their primary choice. This will be prevalent in children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), as the education leader warns they will be given a mainstream school place instead.

       He said: “This can be an anxious time for families.

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       “Choosing the right school and securing a place there is a huge moment in a child’s life and not everyone will get their first choice.

       “There is particular concern this year for children with special or additional needs, where families are trying to navigate a broken Send system.

       “There remains a hugely unfair postcode lottery when it comes to support for pupils with the most severe needs.”

       Mr Whiteman added: “Without action, we risk a whole generation of young people missing out on the first-class support and education they deserve, and the anxious wait for families uncertain whether they will get a suitable school place for their child will continue.”

       Official data shows that, last year, 82.9% of pupils were offered their first choice of secondary school – which was up slightly on 82.6% in 2023.

       However, in Manchester, only 74% of children got their first preference this year, while in Birmingham 73.96% got their top choice.

       Greenwich had the lowest proportion of children getting their top choice at 63.82%, and in Lewisham, just 63.89% secured their first preference.

       Further strain has been placed on state schools following Rachel Reeves’ decision to impose VAT on private school fees. The Government estimates that the changes could push 37,000 students out of the private sector and into state schools.

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       Labour argue it will raise ￡1.8bn a year by 2029/30 to help deliver 6,500 new teachers and raise state school standards.

       A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: “Families should be confident their child can go to a good local school that meets their needs, so they can achieve and thrive.

       “The Send system this government inherited has been failing to meet the needs of children and families for far too long, with a lack of early intervention and support in mainstream schools.

       “Through our Plan for Change, we are determined to improve inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, making sure special schools cater to children with the most complex needs and restoring parents’ trust that their child will get the right support.”