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 South East, 8.8% of applicants did not get into their first choice primary school and 16.7% did not secure a place at their preferred secondary school. This meant 8,312 primary and 16,978 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.
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.
![Polegate School had 114 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 89 of these were offered places. This means 25 or 21.9% did not get a place](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjIyMWFhNDc3LWIyNGUtNDFhNS1hZjljLTgyZjQ0YTY2MjUyNTozZTJiNzJhZC0yZjljLTQ1NWMtYTNhMS05OTE1MDRmNDMzMjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Polegate School, Polegate
Polegate School had 114 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 89 of these were offered places. This means 25 or 21.9% did not get a placePhoto: Stephen Curtis
![Hamsey Primary School had 19 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 15 of these were offered places. This means 4 or 21.1% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY4NjMyNjUyLTc5MjYtNGJhNS1iYTg3LTdiYTU3YmU5ZWIxMzo4MmU1ZjM3Zi01NmM0LTQxM2EtYjFjNi0xYTRlMzU5MzcyYjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Hamsey Primary School, Cooksbridge
Hamsey Primary School had 19 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 15 of these were offered places. This means 4 or 21.1% did not get a place.Photo: Google
![High Cliff Academy had 34 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 27 of these were offered places. This means 7 or 20.6% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU3YzRmOTBiLTg1MTYtNDAzMi1iZmIzLTlkMzE3ZGE2NWU1NDowMDJhZjZmOS1kY2Y5LTQ2MTItOTA2Ni01Y2NkZmJkYWVlY2Y=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. High Cliff Academy, Newhaven
High Cliff Academy had 34 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 27 of these were offered places. This means 7 or 20.6% did not get a place.Photo: Google
![St Mary’s Catholic Primary School had 36 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 29 of these were offered places. This means 7 or 19.4% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBkNjNlYWZmLTZiYzMtNDBhOS1iM2E1LTRiOGE5YTAyMTVjMjo5ODI2YTZmMi00NmFhLTQ3OGQtYWI4MS04NDNmOGQ1NDFhMzA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Crowborough
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School had 36 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 29 of these were offered places. This means 7 or 19.4% did not get a place.Photo: Google