90% of primary school place appeals rejected

Families fighting to get their children admitted to oversubscribed primary schools face almost certain defeat because of pressure on space, figures show.

Last year, only 11 per cent of appeals by parents who could not get their child into the primary of their choice were successful.

Parent-teacher groups said the search for a decent school within a realistic distance of home was "soul-destroying" for many families.

Margaret Morrissey, spokeswoman for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, accused the Government of failing to act on families' demands for more places at local schools.

"They say there is more choice for parents and yet every year parents have less choice, substantiated by these figures," she said.

"Never do they want to discuss the issue that would help support parents and children's education: finding children in London a school they want to go to - and for some of them, even just a school."

The Evening Standard requested the data under the Freedom of Information Act. In the 27 boroughs that supplied figures, a total of 1,814 appeals were lodged - of which 196, or 11 per cent, were successful.

Parents in Barking and Dagenham had the highest chance of winning an appeal, with a third of cases being decided in their favour. The council also saw the most appeals: 263.

In eight boroughs no appeals were successful - all 52 in Enfield failed as did all 46 in Sutton. In 19 authorities the chances were lower than one in 10. In Kensington and Chelsea not one family appealed. Town halls said some parents withdrew claims before formal hearings after getting on to the waiting list at their chosen school or accepting an alternative offer.

But many appeals were rejected as officials struggled to keep within legal limits on class sizes while trying to give families places at nearby schools.

The figures are likely to underestimate the problem, as some town halls could not provide statistics for faith schools and other institutions controlled by governing bodies - many of which are popular for high standards of achievement and discipline.

Meanwhile, an opinion poll of 500 people by HotProperty.co.uk showed two thirds would sell their home and move into the catchment area of their preferred school if they could.

Headteachers' leaders said parents should look beyond exam result league tables. Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "What I would say is for goodness sake go and have a look at your local school because it may be far better than the statistics suggest."

Mr Brookes said the appeals process was a time-consuming and bureaucratic headache for schools, as there was little they could do to satisfy demand when over-subscribed - short of rebuilding to accommodate more classrooms.