Case study · Parents · England
Case study: London primary schools, first choices and falling demand
How many London families got their first-choice primary school for September 2026, borough by borough, and how much demand has fallen since 2019.
By the Pyxion Learn team · Checked 1 November 2026 · Analysis of published figures
London’s primary schools are changing fast. Fewer children are applying, and in many boroughs it has become much easier to get your first choice. Here is what the figures for September 2026 entry show.
Most London families got their first choice
Across London’s state primary schools, 88% of families who named a first preference were offered it (70,076 of 79,301).
It varies a lot by borough. The lowest shares:
- Kensington and Chelsea: 71%
- Hammersmith and Fulham: 75%
- Wandsworth: 78%
- Islington: 79%
- Camden: 81%
And the highest:
- Barking and Dagenham: 98%
- Hillingdon: 96%
- Enfield: 95%
- Tower Hamlets: 95%
Demand has fallen by around a sixth since 2019
At the 1,520 London primary schools with figures for both years, first-preference applications fell by 15% between September 2019 and September 2026 entry.
The steepest falls:
- Lambeth: down 29%
- Kingston upon Thames: down 27%
- Greenwich: down 27%
- Merton: down 24%
- Richmond upon Thames: down 23%
- Southwark: down 23%
The smallest:
- Waltham Forest: down 4%
- Newham: down 7%
- Brent: down 9%
- Havering: down 9%
What it means for families
- Your first choice is more achievable than it was, especially in boroughs where demand has fallen most. It is still worth naming every school you would accept, in your real order of preference.
- Popular schools can still be oversubscribed. A borough-wide figure hides individual schools that remain hard to get into: check each school’s own figures and how far its offers reached.
- Falling rolls affect schools. Schools are funded mostly per pupil, so falling numbers put pressure on budgets, and some councils have consulted on merging or closing schools. Ask about a school’s plans when you visit.
The primary application deadline is 15 January; offers come on 16 April. Key dates · Applying for a primary place · Search the primary schools near you
Analysis of published admissions figures for state primary schools in London. The 2019 comparison covers only schools with figures for both years, so schools that opened, closed or changed status since 2019 are not included.