School admissions 2026: where first-choice pressure is highest
Answer: Secondary admissions were markedly tighter than primary admissions in 2026. Nationally, 83.6% of secondary applicants received their first choice, compared with 92.4% of primary applicants.
The national result sounds reassuring, but it hides a much sharper local market. We joined the Department for Education’s latest school-level applications and offers file to 18,613 open mainstream schools. The data covers offers made on 2 March 2026 for secondary places and 16 April 2026 for primary places.
Applicants offered their first-choice school, England, 2026
How much more competitive are secondary places?
In the matched school-level data, primary schools received 2.33 ranked preferences per offered place; secondaries received 2.55. More importantly, 37.6% of secondaries received more first preferences than they had places, against 21.9% of primaries.
That does not mean every child at those schools was refused. Admissions authorities apply published criteria, and children can receive another ranked preference. It does mean the first-choice queue was longer than the number of places before those criteria were applied.
Where was first-choice pressure highest?
The table groups schools by their local-authority location, not by the applicant’s home authority. It is therefore a measure of pressure on schools in an area. We require at least 20 matched schools and 500 offered places to keep small-area noise out of the ranking.
| School location | First preferences / place | First-preference offers | Schools analysed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston upon Thames | 1.12 | 72.8% | 42 |
| Southwark | 1.10 | 70.7% | 81 |
| Telford and Wrekin | 1.09 | 79.2% | 60 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 1.08 | 65.5% | 46 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 1.06 | 66.5% | 32 |
| Sutton | 1.06 | 71.9% | 48 |
| Trafford | 1.05 | 81.7% | 78 |
| Reading | 1.05 | 79.1% | 47 |
London boroughs dominate, but not exclusively: Telford and Wrekin, Trafford, Reading, Buckinghamshire and Torbay also appear in the ten highest first-preference-per-place areas. Selective systems and cross-border applications can raise pressure on schools in an area even when residents’ eventual first-choice offer rate is better.
What should parents do with this data?
- Use school-level evidence. National percentages cannot tell you the chance at a particular school.
- Read the actual oversubscription criteria. Distance, siblings, faith and selection can matter more than the raw application count.
- Keep a realistic option on the form. Rank schools honestly, but include at least one where recent admissions evidence suggests you are competitive.
- Do not confuse preferences with unique applicants. A child can generate several preference records across several schools.
Check the schools behind the averages
Search your postcode, compare nearby schools and read the admissions evidence alongside results, attendance and inspection history.
Search nearby schoolsFrequently asked questions
What was the first-choice school offer rate in 2026?
The official national rate was 92.4% for primary applicants and 83.6% for secondary applicants.
Does the national rate show my child’s chance at one school?
No. It combines every applicant in England. A particular school can be much more or less competitive, and its admissions criteria still determine who receives an offer.
Why can a school receive several preferences per place?
Families list several schools. Each ranked choice is counted as a preference, so total preferences are not the number of distinct children applying to that school.