Thousands of West Midlands children miss out on their top school choice

New data reveals how school admissions vary across the country, with Birmingham families facing tough competition.

Transcript

00:00Parents in the West Midlands faced some of the toughest odds in England when it came

00:08to securing a first-choice school this year. Just over 81 percent of applicants received

00:14an offer for their top pick, one of the lowest rates in the country. That's despite more

00:19than 96 percent being offered a place at one of their listed preferences overall. It reflects

00:24a squeeze on places at some of the region's most popular schools, particularly in urban

00:28centres like Birmingham. The gap between first-choice success rates in this area and those in the

00:33northeast where over 90 percent got their top pick raises questions about fairness and

00:39pressure on local education systems. While many families are happy with their offers,

00:44others are left disappointed or forced to make tough decisions about travel or appeals.

00:49With the new school year fast approaching, the West Midlands remains one of the most competitive

00:54regions to secure your preferred school.