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Your weekly London local government update

05 Mar 25

Secondary Offer Day: Almost 95% get a place at a preferred school 

Data published on National Secondary Offer Day 2025 (Monday 3 March) by the Pan-London Admissions Board reveals 94.8 per cent of children due to start secondary school in London this September have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools.

The total number of applications made for secondary school places in London this year was 87,512, a decrease of 3.1 per cent compared to last year. However, several boroughs saw a slight increase in applications.

Application numbers are affected by several factors, including the falling birth rate across London. A recent report ( [link removed] ) by London Councils predicts a 2.9 percent drop in demand for secondary school places over the next four years. The forecast decrease of pupils entering Year 7 translates to 2,646 places, roughly equivalent to 100 classes.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Ian Edwards ( [link removed] ), said: “We are pleased that the vast majority of London’s children have received offers from one of their preferred schools.

“With falling pupil numbers affecting school resources, boroughs have worked closely with their local schools to ensure there are enough places to meet demand.

“London remains the best-performing region at GCSE level, with 96 per cent of schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Families can be confident that their child will receive a high-quality education in the capital.”

Borough of Culture

Wandsworth officially launched its programme of events as the London Borough of Culture 2025 last week.

Wandsworth launched the programme, which will run from April 2025 - March 2026, at a special event at Battersea Arts Centre on 25 February. The programme, which will include dance spectacles, live concerts and a heritage festival, as well as a new drama series and a podcast exploring the borough's musical heritage, are described as a "celebration that will bring people together to enjoy the rich mix of traditions, festivals, food, and arts that make our borough so special."

You can find out full details of what's on where on the dedicated welcometowandsworth website here. ( [link removed] )

The London Borough of Culture award was launched by the Mayor of London in June 2017. Each winning borough receives £1.35 million from the Mayor of London to help fund their year of cultural events and activities.

Haringey will be the London Borough of Culture in 2026.

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By-election result

A by-election took place in Westminster City Council's 
Vincent Square ward last week (27 February). The by-election was won by Martin Hayes (Con). You can read the full result here. ( [link removed] )

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The Mayor of London and 
London Councils have come together with local leaders from business, education and the voluntary sector to launch a bold new plan to turbocharge economic growth and increase prosperity across the capital.

Developed together with London & Partners - in 
collaboration with businesses, trade unions and London’s communities - the London Growth Plan, formally launched last week, sets out a blueprint to kickstart the capital’s productivity, which has flatlined since the 2008 global financial crisis. Read more about the Growth Plan here. ( [link removed] )

In the news this week...

Ali Griffin: Let's make the case for investing in local government
The MJ ( [link removed] )

NAO: Treasury needs ‘spending framework’ for councils
LGC ( [link removed] )

What to do if you don’t get your first-choice secondary school
The Times ( [link removed] )

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London Local Government 
Directory

You can find contact details for every councillor in London in our London Government Directory here ( [link removed] )

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London Councils is the collective of local government in London, the 32 boroughs and the City of London.
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