On National Primary Offer Day 2025, new data from the Pan-London Admissions Board shows that 97.9% of children set to start primary school in London this September have secured a spot
at one of their preferred schools.
Of those applicants, 87.9% received offers from their first-choice school—a slight dip of 1.2 percentage points compared to last year. Meanwhile, 96.6% (or 80,706 children) were offered a place at one of their top three preferred schools.
This year, 83,581 applications were submitted for primary school places across London, marking a 2.1% decrease from the previous year. Still, a few boroughs reported a modest rise in application numbers.
The decline in applications is largely driven by ongoing demographic shifts, including a falling birth rate and the growing difficulty families face in finding affordable housing in the capital. According to analysis from London Councils, the number of reception-aged pupils in the city is expected to fall by 3.6% over the next four years—equivalent to 3,195 fewer places or about 117 fewer reception classes.
Cllr Ian Edwards, London Councils’ Executive Member for Children and Young People, said:
“Boroughs know that primary offer day brings very important news to young Londoners and their families. It is great to see the vast majority of children in the capital receive offers from one of their preferred primary schools.
“Overall decreases in pupil numbers can pose a challenge to schools’ resources. However, boroughs will continue working closely with schools to meet local needs and help families make the most of the high-quality educational opportunities available in the capital.”
Jon Abbey, Chair of the Pan-London Admissions Board, said:
“The Pan-London Admissions Scheme means school places in the capital are distributed in an open and fair way, taking into account the number of places available and eligibility criteria at each school. Where parents and pupils have not been offered their first preference it is because, in some schools, demand outstrips supply.
“Overall, analysis suggests that falling birth rates and family migration from London have led to a continued decrease in demand for school places and resulted in a reduction in total applications this year.
“We advise parents to read the details of their child’s offer carefully and consider their options fully before making a decision. Please be aware that each London borough has an admissions team and staff who are very happy to assist if parents have any queries.” Photo by Mx. Granger, Wikimedia commons.