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.
![Ashdown Primary School had 67 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 54 of these were offered places. This means 13 or 19.4% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY0ZGFkNDE3LWQwNTUtNDMzYS1iZWNmLTEyOWRjOThkMTcxOTpjOTNkNTgxNi1hNjJkLTQ0OWQtYmVjYy1iZWRiYWZhZmU4NjM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
9. Ashdown Primary School, Crowborough
Ashdown Primary School had 67 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 54 of these were offered places. This means 13 or 19.4% did not get a place.Photo: Google
![Harlands Community Primary School & Nursery had 37 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 30 of these were offered places. This means 7 or 18.9% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjljOWNkZmE5LTc0OWItNDAzYy05YTQzLWFjNjZkOTU3NTA5Mjo2ZDYxMDkzNi04NTY3LTRkZjYtODc0NC0zNjk4ZTgxNzkxYzI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
10. Harlands Community Primary School & Nursery, Uckfield
Harlands Community Primary School & Nursery had 37 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 30 of these were offered places. This means 7 or 18.9% did not get a place.Photo: Google
![Seaford Primary School had 73 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 60 of these were offered places. This means 13 or 17.8% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjkxNmRlMzE2LTJkNmUtNDRhMi04YWIwLWNhZDJjODE2NDk5MzowYTA5ZmQ5Zi00Njk0LTQ0NTktOTQ3Ny02NWE3NDk2ZDFhYmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
11. Seaford Primary School, Seaford
Seaford Primary School had 73 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 60 of these were offered places. This means 13 or 17.8% did not get a place.Photo: Google
![Annecy Catholic Primary School had 35 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 29 of these were offered places. This means 6 or 17.1% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI3NWY3ZDU1LTk3N2ItNDI3YS05Y2M4LWM3MTVhNzIwNGJlMDo5ZDVkNTc1Yy1iMzNlLTQ5M2ItYTA2Yy0wYThmNzZkNTdhODU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
12. Annecy Catholic Primary School, Seaford
Annecy Catholic Primary School had 35 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 29 of these were offered places. This means 6 or 17.1% did not get a place.Photo: Stephen Curtis