Over 30% in Hounslow Fail to Get First Choice Secondary School
Fall in successful applications attributed to strong demand
Cllr Chaudhary (right) visiting a local school. Picture: Hounslow Council
March 4, 2026
About 30% of Hounslow pupils did not receive their first-choice secondary school this year, a figure that places the borough below both its own recent performance and the London average. The new data, released by the Pan-London Admissions Board, shows that 69% of applicants in Hounslow secured their top preference for September 2026 entry.
Hounslow’s first-preference rate has typically been higher. In recent years, the borough has usually sat in the low-to-mid 70% range, according to Department for Education datasets tracking local authority offer patterns.
A drop to 69% therefore represents a noticeable tightening in the system, likely driven by rising demand for a small number of highly sought-after schools.
Across London, first-preference rates vary widely, but the Pan-London average generally sits around 70–72%. Access to first choice schools in Hounslow is still significantly higher than some inner-London boroughs where first-preference rates can fall into the 50–60% range.
Despite the fall in first-preference allocations, the borough reports that 90% of pupils received one of their top three choices and 96% received one of their top six choices
These figures remain broadly in line with London norms, where most families ultimately secure a preferred school even if not their first choice.
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills and Employment, said the borough remained proud of its schools, all of which are rated either Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. She welcomed the high proportion of families receiving a preferred school, while acknowledging the pressures created by strong demand.
Parents who applied on time will receive their outcome by email and must respond via the eAdmissions portal by 16 March. Those who did not receive their first choice will also receive a letter explaining next steps, including waiting lists and appeals.
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