You’d think so. But here’s the kicker: the number of families applying for state secondary schools in London dropped by roughly 4% this year compared to last. That’s about 3,000 fewer pupils in the pool. And yet—get this—the proportion of kids who landed their first-choice school also fell. It went from around 70% to about 68% in some boroughs. So, fewer kids competing, but more of them missing out. (I know, it’s the kind of math that makes you want to scream into a pillow.)
What’s going on? Is London suddenly allergic to education? No, you silly. It’s more about demographics and supply. The city’s birth rate has been dropping for years, especially since the 2016 Brexit vote. Fewer babies born means fewer kids hitting Year 7 now. Simple, right? Except the schools haven’t shrunk. They’re still there, with the same number of places, but the competition is still brutal in popular areas. You can have fewer kids overall, but if those kids all want the same three schools in Clapham or Islington, the rejection letters pile up like pizza flyers.
