London battles a drop in secondary school applications amidst growing mental health concerns for children
With a significant decline in secondary school applications and nearly 70,000 children missing out on mental health treatments, London’s education and healthcare systems face challenges. A decrease in school applications due to lower birth rates and Brexit contrasts with rising demands for mental health services among children.
London is currently facing a significant decline in secondary school applications, with 4,000 fewer children seeking places for September, dropping the rate of families securing their first choice to 70%, below the national average of 80%. This decrease, attributed to falling birthrates, shifting migration patterns, and Brexit-related family decisions, contrasts with places like Birmingham where demand is rising. Particularly affected, Hammersmith and Fulham saw only 62.5% of children get their top choice school. Officials, including Ian Edwards from London Councils, are concerned about balancing school capacity with the decreasing number of students, which may affect budgets, curriculum breadth, and staff numbers. The Department for Education emphasizes its commitment to quality education provision and advises parents unsuccessful in securing preferred schools to consider waiting lists, appeals, and thorough research.
Concurrently, almost 70,000 children in England eligible for mental health treatment did not receive it, missing the NHS’s target of 818,000 treated children in 2023 by nearly 69,000. This shortfall comes amid increasing referrals to mental health services, exacerbated by post-pandemic pressures and notably lacking in NHS eating disorder services for children, with only 63% seen within a week of urgent referral. Calls from charities like YoungMinds for prioritized funding reflect a need for nationwide coverage of early access mental health hubs. The Department of Health asserts a significant rise in mental health spending and the expansion of school mental health support teams.
In light of these challenges, approximately 30% of London pupils missed out on their first-choice secondary school for the coming academic year, leaving over 25,000 children to attend schools they didn’t prefer. Despite this, 90% secured a place at one of their top three choices. Variations across London boroughs are notable, with Hammersmith and Fulham notably lower in first-choice placements compared to boroughs like Barking and Dagenham. Factors such as a declining birth rate, the pandemic, and Brexit have contributed to an expected 4.3% decrease in secondary school demand over the next four years. However, Jon Abbey of the Pan-London Admissions Board and Ian Edwards emphasize that there are sufficient places and a commitment to maintaining the high quality of education, with 90% of London schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.
