Havering near the top of the class on school admissions

SCHOOLCHILDREN in Havering were among the most successful in London in obtaining their first choice secondary schools this week, figures show.

Seventy-nine per cent of the borough’s students gained a place at their top preference school, the third highest proportion in London. This is up from 76 per cent last year.

The borough scored higher than the rest of the city in terms of the number of children gaining entry to one of their top three choice of schools too, with 95 per cent making it.

Cllr Paul Rochford, cabinet member for children and learning, said: “This another good result for the 95 per cent of students who have been offered one of the top three places.

“The education system in Havering always delivers outstanding results and I am delighted that we can offer this many students one of their top three preferences.

He added: “I am looking forward to another year of exceptional academic results in Havering’s Schools.”

Applications for school places are coordinated by the Pan London Admissions Board. Chris Kiernan, its chair, said: “For the seventh year running, London’s co-ordinated admissions system has been very successful in enabling more parents to be allocated a school of their preference by a fairer distribution of available offers.”

Only Bexley and Newham had a higher proportion of students getting into their first choice school than Havering.