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The most oversubscribed secondary schools in England

1,157 secondary schools with 60 or more Year 7 places had more first-choice applicants than places.

Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Birmingham in Birmingham is ranked first, on 3.51 per place. The list spans 55 local authorities, and Birmingham has the most schools in it (8).

The school in 100th place recorded 1.81 per place, against a typical figure of 0.95 per place across all 3,075 schools that meet the rules. By region, the top 100 breaks down as London 39, West Midlands 19 and South East 12; one region has no school in the list.

How this ranking works

The measure is first-choice applications divided by places offered for Year 7 entry. Only schools with at least 60 places are ranked.

100 of the 3,075 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. 1Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, BirminghamBirmingham · 432 first choices for 123 places3.51 per place
  2. 2Dartford Grammar SchoolKent · 569 first choices for 179 places3.18 per place
  3. 3Ark Greenwich Free SchoolGreenwich · 357 first choices for 115 places3.10 per place
  4. 4Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham EastBirmingham · 362 first choices for 122 places2.97 per place
  5. 5The King's (The Cathedral) SchoolPeterborough · 366 first choices for 127 places2.88 per place
  6. 6Reach Academy Hanworth ParkHounslow · 242 first choices for 84 places2.88 per place
  7. 7Landau Forte CollegeDerby · 517 first choices for 180 places2.87 per place
  8. 8King Edward VI Grammar School, ChelmsfordEssex · 412 first choices for 149 places2.77 per place
  9. 9Kendrick SchoolReading · 351 first choices for 127 places2.76 per place
  10. 10Reading SchoolReading · 400 first choices for 146 places2.74 per place
  11. 11Brampton Manor AcademyNewham · 1,161 first choices for 434 places2.67 per place
  12. 12The Blue Coat CofE SchoolOldham · 611 first choices for 232 places2.63 per place
  13. 13Lady Margaret SchoolHammersmith and Fulham · 310 first choices for 118 places2.63 per place
  14. 14Northampton School for BoysWest Northamptonshire · 571 first choices for 218 places2.62 per place
  15. 15Michaela Community SchoolBrent · 286 first choices for 112 places2.55 per place
  16. 16King Edward VI SchoolWarwickshire · 221 first choices for 87 places2.54 per place
  17. 17St Mary Magdalene AcademyIslington · 434 first choices for 171 places2.54 per place
  18. 18Hockerill Anglo-European CollegeHertfordshire · 152 first choices for 61 places2.49 per place
  19. 19Tiffin SchoolKingston upon Thames · 479 first choices for 195 places2.46 per place
  20. 20Stratford Girls' Grammar SchoolWarwickshire · 289 first choices for 120 places2.41 per place
  21. 21Dartford Grammar School for GirlsKent · 428 first choices for 178 places2.40 per place
  22. 22Madeley AcademyTelford and Wrekin · 411 first choices for 172 places2.39 per place
  23. 23Holyport CollegeWindsor and Maidenhead · 150 first choices for 63 places2.38 per place
  24. 24Parmiter's SchoolHertfordshire · 486 first choices for 205 places2.37 per place
  25. 25The Tiffin Girls' SchoolKingston upon Thames · 445 first choices for 189 places2.35 per place
  26. 26The St Marylebone CofE SchoolWestminster · 376 first choices for 160 places2.35 per place
  27. 27Thomas Telford University Technical CollegeWolverhampton · 349 first choices for 149 places2.34 per place
  28. 28Kingsdale Foundation SchoolSouthwark · 964 first choices for 416 places2.32 per place
  29. 29Dixons Kings AcademyBradford · 344 first choices for 151 places2.28 per place
  30. 30Alexandra Park SchoolHaringey · 498 first choices for 220 places2.26 per place
  31. 31Queen Elizabeth's School, BarnetBarnet · 432 first choices for 192 places2.25 per place
  32. 32King Edward VI Camp Hill School for GirlsBirmingham · 337 first choices for 150 places2.25 per place
  33. 33St Edward's CollegeLiverpool · 357 first choices for 159 places2.25 per place
  34. =34Madani Boys SchoolLeicester · 202 first choices for 90 places2.24 per place
  35. =34Madani Girls' SchoolLeicester · 202 first choices for 90 places2.24 per place
  36. 36The Judd SchoolKent · 400 first choices for 179 places2.23 per place
  37. 37Avanti House SchoolHarrow · 367 first choices for 167 places2.20 per place
  38. 38Graveney SchoolWandsworth · 619 first choices for 282 places2.19 per place
  39. 39The Camden School for GirlsCamden · 254 first choices for 116 places2.19 per place
  40. 40Colchester Royal Grammar SchoolEssex · 280 first choices for 128 places2.19 per place
  41. 41Ark Isaac Newton AcademyRedbridge · 181 first choices for 83 places2.18 per place
  42. 42Redden Court SchoolHavering · 427 first choices for 197 places2.17 per place
  43. 43Dixons City AcademyBradford · 369 first choices for 171 places2.16 per place
  44. 44Eden Boys' School, BirminghamBirmingham · 265 first choices for 123 places2.15 per place
  45. 45King Edward VI Five Ways SchoolBirmingham · 387 first choices for 180 places2.15 per place
  46. 46Lawrence Sheriff SchoolWarwickshire · 319 first choices for 150 places2.13 per place
  47. 47Haberdashers' AdamsTelford and Wrekin · 285 first choices for 135 places2.11 per place
  48. 48Sacred Heart Catholic SchoolSouthwark · 238 first choices for 115 places2.07 per place
  49. 49Queen Mary's Grammar SchoolWalsall · 367 first choices for 178 places2.06 per place
  50. 50Denbigh High SchoolLuton · 426 first choices for 208 places2.05 per place
  51. 51The Charter School North DulwichSouthwark · 363 first choices for 178 places2.04 per place
  52. 52Tauheedul Islam Boys' High SchoolBlackburn with Darwen · 233 first choices for 115 places2.03 per place
  53. 53St Mary's and St John's CofE SchoolBarnet · 164 first choices for 81 places2.02 per place
  54. 54St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar SchoolBromley · 257 first choices for 128 places2.01 per place
  55. 55St Paul's Way Trust SchoolTower Hamlets · 401 first choices for 200 places2.00 per place
  56. 56Chelmsford County High School for GirlsEssex · 358 first choices for 179 places2.00 per place
  57. 57Mercia SchoolSheffield · 385 first choices for 194 places1.99 per place
  58. 58The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC SchoolKensington and Chelsea · 244 first choices for 123 places1.98 per place
  59. 59Gordon's SchoolSurrey · 209 first choices for 106 places1.97 per place
  60. 60The Grey Coat HospitalWestminster · 333 first choices for 169 places1.97 per place
  61. 61Alcester Grammar SchoolWarwickshire · 293 first choices for 149 places1.97 per place
  62. 62Tonbridge Grammar SchoolKent · 353 first choices for 180 places1.96 per place
  63. 63Langley Grammar SchoolSlough · 347 first choices for 177 places1.96 per place
  64. 64Leigh Academy BlackheathGreenwich · 333 first choices for 170 places1.96 per place
  65. 65Twyford Church of England High SchoolEaling · 369 first choices for 189 places1.95 per place
  66. 66Nishkam High SchoolBirmingham · 233 first choices for 120 places1.94 per place
  67. 67The University of Birmingham SchoolBirmingham · 285 first choices for 147 places1.94 per place
  68. 68Orleans Park SchoolRichmond upon Thames · 401 first choices for 207 places1.94 per place
  69. =69Liverpool CollegeLiverpool · 317 first choices for 164 places1.93 per place
  70. =69King Edward VI Camp Hill School for BoysBirmingham · 290 first choices for 150 places1.93 per place
  71. 71Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, BradfordBradford · 216 first choices for 112 places1.93 per place
  72. 72Wilson's SchoolSutton · 413 first choices for 215 places1.92 per place
  73. 73Burnham Grammar SchoolBuckinghamshire · 345 first choices for 180 places1.92 per place
  74. 74Roundhay SchoolLeeds · 444 first choices for 232 places1.91 per place
  75. 75Newport Girls' High School AcademyTelford and Wrekin · 227 first choices for 119 places1.91 per place
  76. 76Wren Academy FinchleyBarnet · 215 first choices for 113 places1.90 per place
  77. 77St Joseph's CollegeStoke-on-Trent · 285 first choices for 150 places1.90 per place
  78. 78Woodford County High SchoolRedbridge · 338 first choices for 178 places1.90 per place
  79. 79The Priory Academy LSSTLincolnshire · 438 first choices for 232 places1.89 per place
  80. 80Glenthorne High SchoolSutton · 481 first choices for 255 places1.89 per place
  81. =81William Perkin Church of England High SchoolEaling · 375 first choices for 199 places1.88 per place
  82. =81Eden Girls' School, SloughSlough · 228 first choices for 121 places1.88 per place
  83. 83Watford Grammar School for BoysHertfordshire · 396 first choices for 211 places1.88 per place
  84. 84William Hulme's Grammar SchoolManchester · 313 first choices for 167 places1.87 per place
  85. 85North Liverpool AcademyLiverpool · 410 first choices for 219 places1.87 per place
  86. 86The Coopers' Company and Coborn SchoolHavering · 383 first choices for 205 places1.87 per place
  87. =87Walsall AcademyWalsall · 373 first choices for 202 places1.85 per place
  88. =87St Mark's Catholic SchoolHounslow · 325 first choices for 176 places1.85 per place
  89. =89Ark Bolingbroke AcademyWandsworth · 240 first choices for 130 places1.85 per place
  90. =89West London Free SchoolHammersmith and Fulham · 240 first choices for 130 places1.85 per place
  91. 91Coombe Wood SchoolCroydon · 321 first choices for 174 places1.84 per place
  92. 92Corpus Christi Catholic High SchoolLancashire · 278 first choices for 151 places1.84 per place
  93. 93St Mary's Catholic SchoolNewcastle upon Tyne · 414 first choices for 225 places1.84 per place
  94. 94The Island Free SchoolIsle of Wight · 204 first choices for 111 places1.84 per place
  95. 95The Belvedere AcademyLiverpool · 345 first choices for 188 places1.83 per place
  96. 96The Henrietta Barnett SchoolBarnet · 220 first choices for 120 places1.83 per place
  97. 97Highlands SchoolEnfield · 445 first choices for 243 places1.83 per place
  98. 98Saint Paul's Catholic High SchoolManchester · 300 first choices for 165 places1.82 per place
  99. 99Skegness Grammar SchoolLincolnshire · 129 first choices for 71 places1.82 per place
  100. 100Harris Academy Chafford HundredThurrock · 374 first choices for 207 places1.81 per place

Things to bear in mind

Secondary ratios depend on reputation and on how many alternatives are nearby. Selective schools collect many first choices from families who sit the entrance test, which pushes their ratio up. Councils co-ordinate offers, so families still get a place somewhere when their first choice is full.

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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