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The most oversubscribed primary schools in England

2,435 primary schools with 30 or more Reception places received more first-choice applications than they had places.

Al-Noor Voluntary Aided Muslim Primary School in Redbridge is ranked first, on 3.35 per place. The list spans 58 local authorities, and Kent has the most schools in it (6).

The school in 100th place recorded 1.68 per place, against a typical figure of 0.98 per place across all 7,861 schools that meet the rules. By region, the top 100 breaks down as London 38, North West 18 and South East 14, with every region represented.

How this ranking works

The measure is first-choice applications divided by places offered for Reception entry. Only schools with at least 30 places are ranked. A ratio of 2.00 means two families put the school first for every place.

100 of the 7,861 schools that meet these rules are shown below. A rank with "=" is shared with another school on the same figure. Tap any school to see its full results, Ofsted grades, admissions and nearby alternatives.

The top 100

  1. 1Al-Noor Voluntary Aided Muslim Primary SchoolRedbridge · 201 first choices for 60 places3.35 per place
  2. 2Liverpool CollegeLiverpool · 255 first choices for 88 places2.90 per place
  3. 3Pyrcroft Grange Primary SchoolSurrey · 81 first choices for 30 places2.70 per place
  4. 4Oak Cottage Primary SchoolSolihull · 77 first choices for 30 places2.57 per place
  5. 5Barons Court Primary School and NurserySouthend-on-Sea · 89 first choices for 35 places2.54 per place
  6. 6The Olive School, BirminghamBirmingham · 224 first choices for 90 places2.49 per place
  7. =7Caldershaw Primary SchoolRochdale · 74 first choices for 30 places2.47 per place
  8. =7Merton Park Primary SchoolMerton · 74 first choices for 30 places2.47 per place
  9. 9Carlton Junior and Infant SchoolKirklees · 73 first choices for 30 places2.43 per place
  10. 10Fox Primary SchoolKensington and Chelsea · 140 first choices for 58 places2.41 per place
  11. 11Roundhay SchoolLeeds · 136 first choices for 58 places2.35 per place
  12. 12Avanti House Primary SchoolHarrow · 135 first choices for 58 places2.33 per place
  13. =13The Olive School, Small HeathBirmingham · 138 first choices for 60 places2.30 per place
  14. =13Lowbrook AcademyWindsor and Maidenhead · 69 first choices for 30 places2.30 per place
  15. =13St Mary Magdalene AcademyIslington · 69 first choices for 30 places2.30 per place
  16. 16The Olive School, PrestonLancashire · 135 first choices for 60 places2.25 per place
  17. 17Hampstead Parochial Church of England Primary SchoolCamden · 66 first choices for 30 places2.20 per place
  18. 18Runnymede St Edward's Catholic Primary SchoolLiverpool · 128 first choices for 59 places2.17 per place
  19. 19Ark AcademyBrent · 124 first choices for 58 places2.14 per place
  20. =20Deer Park SchoolRichmond upon Thames · 128 first choices for 60 places2.13 per place
  21. =20Beaumont Primary SchoolCroydon · 64 first choices for 30 places2.13 per place
  22. 22Countess Anne Church of England SchoolHertfordshire · 63 first choices for 30 places2.10 per place
  23. =23Christ Church CofE Primary SchoolKensington and Chelsea · 62 first choices for 30 places2.07 per place
  24. =23Jessop Primary SchoolLambeth · 62 first choices for 30 places2.07 per place
  25. 25Charles Dickens Primary SchoolSouthwark · 120 first choices for 59 places2.03 per place
  26. =26Gawber Primary SchoolBarnsley · 60 first choices for 30 places2.00 per place
  27. =26Sacred Heart Primary SchoolNewcastle upon Tyne · 60 first choices for 30 places2.00 per place
  28. =28Krishna Avanti Primary SchoolHarrow · 118 first choices for 60 places1.97 per place
  29. =28Reach Academy FelthamHounslow · 118 first choices for 60 places1.97 per place
  30. =28Oratory Roman Catholic Primary SchoolKensington and Chelsea · 59 first choices for 30 places1.97 per place
  31. =28St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary SchoolBirmingham · 59 first choices for 30 places1.97 per place
  32. 32Belleville Wix AcademyWandsworth · 86 first choices for 44 places1.96 per place
  33. 33Perry Hall Primary SchoolBromley · 115 first choices for 59 places1.95 per place
  34. =34Southfield Primary SchoolEaling · 116 first choices for 60 places1.93 per place
  35. =34Aughton Christ Church Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolLancashire · 58 first choices for 30 places1.93 per place
  36. =34Shobnall Primary & Nursery SchoolStaffordshire · 58 first choices for 30 places1.93 per place
  37. =37Ashmole Primary SchoolBarnet · 115 first choices for 60 places1.92 per place
  38. =37Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary SchoolMerton · 115 first choices for 60 places1.92 per place
  39. =37St John's Walham Green Church of England Primary SchoolHammersmith and Fulham · 115 first choices for 60 places1.92 per place
  40. 40Avonwood Primary SchoolBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · 113 first choices for 59 places1.92 per place
  41. =41Gillespie Primary SchoolIslington · 57 first choices for 30 places1.90 per place
  42. =41Istead Rise Primary SchoolKent · 57 first choices for 30 places1.90 per place
  43. =41Kendall Church of England Primary SchoolEssex · 57 first choices for 30 places1.90 per place
  44. 44Malvern Primary SchoolKnowsley · 112 first choices for 59 places1.90 per place
  45. 45William Tyndale Primary SchoolIslington · 111 first choices for 59 places1.88 per place
  46. =46The Olive School, ManchesterManchester · 112 first choices for 60 places1.87 per place
  47. =46Beaumont Primary SchoolBolton · 56 first choices for 30 places1.87 per place
  48. =46Braywick Court SchoolWindsor and Maidenhead · 56 first choices for 30 places1.87 per place
  49. =46Cobham Primary SchoolKent · 56 first choices for 30 places1.87 per place
  50. =46Park Road Academy Primary SchoolTrafford · 56 first choices for 30 places1.87 per place
  51. =46St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, BeestonLeeds · 56 first choices for 30 places1.87 per place
  52. =46St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary SchoolSefton · 56 first choices for 30 places1.87 per place
  53. 53Wren Academy FinchleyBarnet · 106 first choices for 57 places1.86 per place
  54. 54Islamia Primary SchoolBrent · 111 first choices for 60 places1.85 per place
  55. 55Sheringdale Primary SchoolWandsworth · 109 first choices for 59 places1.85 per place
  56. =56Lift Lea ForestBirmingham · 110 first choices for 60 places1.83 per place
  57. =56St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South WealdEssex · 110 first choices for 60 places1.83 per place
  58. =56Bushey Heath Primary SchoolHertfordshire · 55 first choices for 30 places1.83 per place
  59. =56St Mary's RC Primary SchoolSalford · 55 first choices for 30 places1.83 per place
  60. 60Rockmount Primary SchoolCroydon · 107 first choices for 59 places1.81 per place
  61. =61The Olive School, BoltonBolton · 108 first choices for 60 places1.80 per place
  62. =61Harris Primary Academy Beckenham GreenBromley · 54 first choices for 30 places1.80 per place
  63. =61Maylandsea Primary SchoolEssex · 54 first choices for 30 places1.80 per place
  64. =61Valley Invicta Primary School at Holborough LakesKent · 54 first choices for 30 places1.80 per place
  65. 65Mossbourne Riverside AcademyHackney · 106 first choices for 59 places1.80 per place
  66. 66Barnes Primary SchoolRichmond upon Thames · 107 first choices for 60 places1.78 per place
  67. 67Chantlers Primary SchoolBury · 64 first choices for 36 places1.78 per place
  68. =68Iqra Slough Islamic Primary SchoolSlough · 159 first choices for 90 places1.77 per place
  69. =68Becket Primary SchoolDerby · 53 first choices for 30 places1.77 per place
  70. =68Petts Hill Primary SchoolEaling · 53 first choices for 30 places1.77 per place
  71. =68Sonning Church of England Primary SchoolWokingham · 53 first choices for 30 places1.77 per place
  72. =68St Mary and St Margaret's Church of England Aided Primary SchoolSolihull · 53 first choices for 30 places1.77 per place
  73. =68St Peter's Church of England Primary SchoolKent · 53 first choices for 30 places1.77 per place
  74. =68Stanwick Primary SchoolNorth Northamptonshire · 53 first choices for 30 places1.77 per place
  75. =68The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)Medway · 53 first choices for 30 places1.77 per place
  76. 76Kentmere Primary AcademyRochdale · 79 first choices for 45 places1.76 per place
  77. =77Lady Boswell's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, SevenoaksKent · 105 first choices for 60 places1.75 per place
  78. =77Redhill Primary AcademyTelford and Wrekin · 105 first choices for 60 places1.75 per place
  79. =79Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery SchoolHertfordshire · 103 first choices for 59 places1.75 per place
  80. =79St Dominic Savio Catholic Primary SchoolWokingham · 103 first choices for 59 places1.75 per place
  81. 81Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education CentreLuton · 106 first choices for 61 places1.74 per place
  82. =82The Olive School, BlackburnBlackburn with Darwen · 156 first choices for 90 places1.73 per place
  83. =82Spring Grove Primary SchoolHounslow · 52 first choices for 30 places1.73 per place
  84. =82Woodford Green Primary SchoolWaltham Forest · 52 first choices for 30 places1.73 per place
  85. 85St John's and St Clement's Church of England Primary SchoolSouthwark · 100 first choices for 58 places1.72 per place
  86. =86Alexandra Primary SchoolKingston upon Thames · 103 first choices for 60 places1.72 per place
  87. =86Chilton Primary SchoolKent · 103 first choices for 60 places1.72 per place
  88. =88St Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolHaringey · 102 first choices for 60 places1.70 per place
  89. =88Beacon Primary AcademyLincolnshire · 51 first choices for 30 places1.70 per place
  90. =88Freshfield Primary SchoolSefton · 51 first choices for 30 places1.70 per place
  91. =88James Brindley Community Primary SchoolSalford · 51 first choices for 30 places1.70 per place
  92. =88Little Chalfont Primary SchoolBuckinghamshire · 51 first choices for 30 places1.70 per place
  93. =88Moseley Church of England Primary SchoolBirmingham · 51 first choices for 30 places1.70 per place
  94. =88St Anne's Catholic Primary School, StreetlyWalsall · 51 first choices for 30 places1.70 per place
  95. =95Ackton Pastures Primary AcademyWakefield · 73 first choices for 43 places1.70 per place
  96. =95Cookridge Primary SchoolLeeds · 73 first choices for 43 places1.70 per place
  97. 97Leagrave Primary SchoolLuton · 98 first choices for 58 places1.69 per place
  98. =98Grappenhall Heys Community Primary SchoolWarrington · 101 first choices for 60 places1.68 per place
  99. =98Hugh Myddelton Primary SchoolIslington · 101 first choices for 60 places1.68 per place
  100. 100Earlsfield Primary SchoolWandsworth · 99 first choices for 59 places1.68 per place

Things to bear in mind

A high ratio shows popularity, not necessarily quality: a small school in a densely populated area can be heavily oversubscribed. Faith schools may receive many first choices from families who meet their religious criteria. Being oversubscribed does not rule you out, so read the school's admission criteria and check its cut-off distance.

Sources: DfE school admissions statistics (applications and offers for September 2026) and council allocation statements. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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