Kingston schools are the most oversubscribed in the capital, with 50 per cent running at or over capacity.

Despite this more than 75 per cent of children who will enter Year 7 in September were offered a space at their first choice school when places were allocated on Tuesday.

Just over 14 per cent of new Year 7 pupils were offered their second choice school and five per cent got their third choice.

In London, on average, just 69 per cent of pupils received an offer from their first choice school.

In Elmbridge, 95 per cent of pupils got into one of their top three choice schools.

Tiffin School was predictably one of the most oversubscribed in Kingston with 700 applicants for just 240 places.

The Kingston Academy, the brand new free school in Richmond Road, also saw a massive 600 top three choice applications for just 180 places.

Headteacher Sophie Cavanagh said: “For us it is a fantastic achievement.

“We are a new school and this just shows the faith that parents have put in us.

“Obviously, as an established great school, Tiffin would have been at the top of many parents’ lists so it is wonderful that so many put us in the top three too.

“North Kingston was really in need of a great school and it still is in need of another great school.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our new September intake.”

The number of 10 to 11-year-old Kingston pupils applying for a secondary school place went up by 67 on last year, totalling 1,709.

Councillor Andrea Craig, cabinet member for schools, said: “We know how important it is for pupils and their families to be offered places to their preferred secondary schools.

“To be in the top six London boroughs is fantastic for Kingston families and our first new secondary Free School the Kingston Academy has helped us achieve this jump.

“We very much hope to deliver a similar positive outcome next year, and will continue to work hard with Achieving for Children and our schools to achieve this despite the ever-growing demand for secondary school places.”