Speaking on National Offer Day, when families learn if they have got their first choice of secondary school, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“This can be an anxious time for families. Choosing the right school and securing a place there is a huge moment in a child’s life and not everyone will get their first choice today.

“There is extra pressure on secondary admissions this year as the population bulge that has been moving through primary schools is currently hitting secondary schools. Many schools are particularly over-subscribed, especially in certain areas of the country.

“The government urgently needs to do more to address the recruitment and retention crisis schools are facing so that there are enough suitably qualified, specialist teachers to cope with the growing numbers of pupils moving through the system.

“It has failed to hit its recruitment targets for secondary school staff in eight out of the last nine years and if that doesn’t change it will inevitably be harder for schools to offer children the education they deserve.

“Additionally, there remains a problem that in an increasingly fragmented school system we lack a co-ordinated approach to place planning. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring sufficient school places, but still lack the powers and resources necessary for them to do so.

“Until the government creates a national strategy to guarantee there are enough school places for every child in England, the annual anxious wait for families will continue.”