More than 500 Islington children denied first place primary school spot

More than a quarter of Islington’s children starting in September will not be at their first choice school.

A total of 537 children, 25.8 per cent, were allocated a school place that was their second choice or lower, while 144 were allocated a place at a school not listed as one of their six choices.

In all 2,081 applications were submitted for children living in Islington, with 74.2pc gaining a place at their first choice school.

The success rate of children who put an Islington school as their first choice was slightly higher with about 80pc being successful – many children are thought to have prioritised a place at schools in neighbouring borough’s such as Camden.

The only London boroughs that had a lower percentage of children getting their first choice were Kensington and Chelsea and Wandsworth – 17 children in Islington will start school at their sixth choice in September.

An Islington Council spokesman said: “Islington has many good and outstanding primary schools. Only seven per cent of pupils did not obtain a place in one of their preferred schools. However, all of these children have been provided with alternative schools to choose from within the borough.”