The competition for school places in London is heating up and now parents are so concerned about getting their child in the institution they want, secret tuition is becoming the norm.

Some London schools can receive up to a dozen applications for a single school place, so parents want to give their own child a head start by sending them to after-school classes - and then refusing to share the names of tutors with other parents.

Examberry, a private tutor agency which helps children applying for places in London's sought-after grammar schools, is seeing increased demand and said most parents ask tutors to be confidential.

Nav Johal, founder of the organisation, explained: "It is all very secretive. They don’t want anyone else to know. We had a girl in one of our classes whose best friend came in. They had been together the day before but neither had mentioned anything. One girl said she was going shopping but then they both turned up [at tutoring].

"It is a very secretive thing. Parents won't recommend a tutor until their child has got a place at school."

London Councils has warned the lack of primary school places caused by population pressures is now set to move to secondary schools and competition is intensifying. Currently, the capital needs around 90,000 more school places to fulfil the demand.

According to the Evening Standard, just 180 places at Harris City Academy Crystal Palace received 2,016 applications, while Bow School in Tower Hamlets is the latest secondary school to expand to adapt to the demand. It is building a new sports pitch on the roof to save space.

As somebody trying to secure a teaching job in London, what do you feel about this? Is this just a natural case of parents wanting the best for their children? Should more effort be made to reduce the gap between the schools that are perceived to be the best and worst in the capital?

Let us know your thoughts.