More than two-thirds of 11-year-olds in Kingston have been offered a place at their preferred secondary school.

Surrey Comet:

The figure of 71.8 percent puts the borough 11th-highest in the capital, above the average of 67.56 percent, according to figures released by London Councils last night.

A further 17.17 percent of Year 6 pupils got into their second-choice school, while 2.2 percent of children missed out on a place in any of the six schools they chose.

That equates to 36 children. A Kingston Council spokesman said those children were offered places in other Kingston schools.

Helen Jenner, chairman of the pan-London admissions board, said: "London boroughs are working with schools to expand the number of places they can offer, but the higher cost of land and construction in the capital means this is often difficult and expensive.

"Not all parents and pupils can be offered their first preference, because there is simply not an unlimited number of places in London's schools."