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.
![Laughton Community Primary School had 18 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 15 of these were offered places. This means 3 or 16.7% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmVkYTAyMTZmLTc3ZmEtNDQyMS1iNDYzLWQ5YjdkNzI5MTY2NTo3NzM1N2ZiYS0wZTMwLTQzNWMtOWMwMi00ZDcwNzNiYzkwNDY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
13. Laughton Community Primary School, Lewes
Laughton Community Primary School had 18 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 15 of these were offered places. This means 3 or 16.7% did not get a place.Photo: Google
![St Michael's Primary School had 6 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 5 of these were offered places. This means 1 or 16.7% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjMxYzgyMzMwLTFhZGYtNGE2ZC04NzFiLTc0ZmJlYWFkOWI2NzpmZGUxOTM1MS0zMWZmLTQ3MmUtOGQxYi1lNzY1NWExOTgzNTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
14. St Michael's Primary School, Withyham
St Michael's Primary School had 6 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 5 of these were offered places. This means 1 or 16.7% did not get a place.Photo: Google
![Bonners CofE School had 18 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 15 of these were offered places. This means 3 or 16.7% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmEzZWJmNzZiLTNiNGQtNDNmYy1iYWJmLTAyNTJiMGQxZTBiMzo4OTFhMTVjNy00YTJlLTRhMmMtOTZkYS02NDYyYWFiNDRjNGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
15. Bonners CofE School, Maresfield
Bonners CofE School had 18 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 15 of these were offered places. This means 3 or 16.7% did not get a place.Photo: Google
![Stone Cross School had 63 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 53 of these were offered places. This means 10 or 15.9% did not get a place.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg0YTI1NDAyLTc5ZmYtNGIwYy04ZDg0LWViNWY0ZTcyNDAwZToyM2JlNTJhNS02MDQ5LTRiOTItYmVjNC03MjkxNzc0ZmUxZTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
16. Stone Cross School, Pevensey
Stone Cross School had 63 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 53 of these were offered places. This means 10 or 15.9% did not get a place.Photo: Google