Admissions2025/26 data

Popular secondary schools get 13 first choices for every 10 places

At the 1,192 secondary schools in England with more first choices than places, about 13 children put the school first for every 10 Year 7 places.

By the Eduscope data teamPublished 31 October 20261 min read

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A teacher helping pupils at grouped tables in a primary classroom

The headline number

13 for 10

First choices for every 10 places

Key finding

Admissions, 2025/26 data

At popular secondary schools, about 13 children put the school first for every 10 Year 7 places.

Every year, families list secondary schools in order of preference. Most schools have room for every child who puts them first. But at 1,192 secondary schools in England, more children put the school first than it has Year 7 places.

At those schools, about 13 children put the school first for every 10 places.

What this means for your application

Each school ranks applicants by its own admissions rules, whatever order you list it in. If the school you like best is popular, list more than one school, and include one you're likely to get.

Every school page shows last year's first choices against places. To see the schools near you, put your postcode into secondary schools near me.

A parent holding a small child's hand at a primary school gate

Primary pupils in uniform working with counters at a classroom table

For parents

What this means for you

Where you live makes a difference, but the school you pick matters more than the area.

Look at the school, not just the area.Area averages hide big differences between schools on the same street. Every school page shows its own figures next to the local authority and England.
Check more than one year.Results and absence can move a lot from one year to the next, so look for a pattern rather than a single figure.
Find the figures that fit your child.If your child gets free school meals or has special educational needs, look at how those children do, not just the overall figure.
Ask on a visit."What are you doing about this?" is a fair question at any school, in any area.

Find schools Compare schools

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