Fewer than two-thirds of 11-year-olds in Wandsworth have been offered a place at their preferred secondary school, and nearly 7 per cent did not get a place at any of their preferred schools.

The figure of 57.82 per cent was the second-lowest in the capital, according to figures released by London Councils on Monday night.

The average figure across London is 67.56 per cent.

A further 17.77 per cent of year 6 pupils got into their second-choice school, and 9.48 into their third. 6.74 per cent failed to get a place in Wandsworth at all.

A spokesman for Wandsworth Council said: “These figures show that nearly nine out of ten parents in the borough secured a place at one of their top three choices which is a good result, especially as the number of applicants to our schools rose by just under six per cent this year to reach the highest level of demand for a decade.

"Parents in Wandsworth have some of London's highest rated and most popular secondary schools to choose from, with 94 per cent officially rated good or outstanding.”

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."