Primary school offer day 2025: What to do if your child didn’t get their first choice

If that includes your child, we’ve got everything you need to know about next steps, appeals, and what to expect now.

The good news: most parents still get one of their top picks

There’s no doubt it’s an anxious wait. However, the data shows that most families get a place at a preferred school. In 2024:

• 93.2% of families in England were offered their first choice
• 98.6% got one of their top three choices

In London specifically, despite a 2.2% drop in applications, 89% of children got their first-choice school – up slightly from the previous year – and 98% got a place at one of their six preferences.

That said, some boroughs fared better than others. In Hillingdon, 95% got their first pick, while in Kensington and Chelsea, just 75% did.

Didn’t get your first choice? Here’s what to do next

If your child didn’t get the offer you were hoping for, here’s what you can do:

1. Accept the offer you’ve been given

It’s important to accept your child’s allocated place, even if it wasn’t your first choice. This won’t affect your right to appeal or join a waiting list, but it will ensure your child has a guaranteed school place in September.

2. Join the waiting list for your preferred school

You can ask to be added to the waiting list for any school you listed on your application. In some boroughs, this happens automatically. In others, you’ll need to contact the council or school to request it.

Each school’s waiting list is ranked using its published admissions criteria, so places aren’t given on a first-come, first-served basis. Waiting lists must be held for at least one term.

3. Appeal the decision if you feel it’s unfair

You have the right to appeal if your child wasn’t offered a place at your preferred school. Contact the admission authority – this could be the school itself or your local council – to find out how to lodge your appeal.

An independent panel will hear both sides and make a binding decision. Remember, you can appeal while still accepting another place.

Why wasn’t your child offered a preferred place?

Sadly, popular schools often receive more applications than they have places. Admission decisions are based on strict criteria, which vary by school but typically include:

• Distance from home to school
• Whether a sibling already attends
• Special educational needs or pupil premium eligibility
• Religious affiliation (for faith schools)
• Whether a parent works at the school

All state-funded schools must give top priority to children who are in care or have been in care.

A spokesperson for the Pan London Admissions Board said: “The heavy demand for certain schools inevitably means that some parents will be disappointed.”

What if you didn’t get any of your choices?

While it’s rare, around 1,540 children in London weren’t offered a place at any of their preferred schools. If this happens, your council must offer a place at the nearest school with availability.

If you find yourself in this situation, contact your local authority straight away for support and advice.

Jon Abbey, chair of the Pan London Admissions Board, says falling birth rates and family migration have reduced the number of applications this year, but the pressure on popular schools remains.

Boroughs are supporting schools to deal with this challenge, meet the needs of our youngest residents and ensure school places continue to be available where there is demand.

So if you’re one of the families still waiting for your perfect match, hang in there. Waiting lists can and do move over the coming weeks and months.

Need more help?

You can check your council’s admissions page for specific details about appeals, waiting lists, and deadlines. Find your local council at gov.uk.

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