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London: Hundreds of children have no primary school to go to this autumn as a new crisis engulfs the admissions system. At least 700 children in southwest London have missed out on all their preferred choices.
Kingston council admitted yesterday that about 200 families had not been offered any of their chosen schools. There are only 30 spare places available to the children - at two unpopular, undersubscribed schools.
A council spokesman said: "The situation is unprecedented in recent years and the demand for places has exceeded the projected need based on the usual indicators, such as increased birth rate and local housing developments."
"This year's increase appears to be a result of more families moving into the borough and the possibility that the slowdown in the economy is affecting the number of parents choosing independent schools," he said.
Similar difficulties
In Sutton 88 children have not been allocated a place, in Merton the total is 258 and in Richmond it is 158, although the council said the proportion of "unplaced" pupils was half that of last year. Other London boroughs are likely to have similar difficulties.
Parents, who are considering legal action, accused councils of failing to plan properly for a growth in the number of infants needing schools, including recent arrivals from eastern Europe. Many of most popular primaries fill their reception classes with siblings of older children.
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