More than three quarters of young people in Barking and Dagenham have secured a place at their first‑preference secondary school for September, the fourth consecutive year, that the borough has ranked number one in London for first‑choice offers.

This year’s figures show that out of 3,325 on‑time applications, 2,763 pupils (83.1 per cent) have been offered their first preference. This significantly exceeds the London average of 70.50 per cent and is the highest proportion of any borough in the capital.

Councillor Elizabeth Kangethe, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement, said:

“It’s fantastic to see Barking and Dagenham once again leading London when it comes to offering pupils a place at one of their top‑preference secondary schools.

“Starting secondary school is a major milestone for our young people, and knowing that so many will begin this next chapter in a school they hoped for is truly wonderful. I’d also like to thank our hardworking School Admissions team for everything they do to support families through their educational journey.”

The borough also exceeded the London‑wide average for top‑three preferences, with 94.86 per cent of applicants receiving an offer from one of their first three preferences, compared with 89.65 per cent across London.

Overall, 96.72 per cent of applicants in Barking and Dagenham have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools, outperforming the London average of 94.34 per cent.