The hardest schools to get into in Bath and North East Somerset
Secondary: 256 families put Beechen Cliff School first in 2026 and 165 of them (65%) were offered a place.
Reception: 37 families put Chew Stoke Church School first in 2026 and 28 of them (76%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Bath and North East Somerset with at least 20 first-choice applicants, hardest first. Of the families who put the school first on their application, the share who were offered a place there. Data: Department for Education.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beechen Cliff School · Bath | 256 | 165 (65%) | 172 |
| 2 | Oldfield School · Bath | 238 | 164 (69%) | 207 |
| 3 | Hayesfield Girls School · Bath | 308 | 227 (74%) | 234 |
| 4 | Ralph Allen School · Bath | 202 | 169 (84%) | 191 |
| 5 | Chew Valley School · Bristol | 211 | 188 (89%) | 200 |
| 6 | Saint Gregory's Catholic College · Bath · faith | 159 | 142 (89%) | 165 |
| 7 | Norton Hill Academy · Radstock | 303 | 277 (91%) | 279 |
| 8 | Wellsway School · Bristol | 202 | 195 (97%) | 226 |
| 9 | Writhlington School · Radstock | 147 | 147 (100%) | 178 |
| 10 | Somervale Secondary School · Radstock | 103 | 103 (100%) | 120 |
| 11 | Lift Broadlands · Bristol | 32 | 32 (100%) | 39 |
| 12 | St Mark's CofE School · Bath · faith | 31 | 31 (100%) | 68 |
Primary schools (Reception)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chew Stoke Church School · Bristol · faith | 37 | 28 (76%) | 28 |
| 2 | Widcombe Infant School · Bath | 76 | 58 (76%) | 60 |
| 3 | Freshford Church School · Bath · faith | 26 | 20 (77%) | 20 |
| 4 | Saltford CofE Primary School · Bristol · faith | 77 | 60 (78%) | 60 |
| 5 | Norton Hill Primary School · Midsomer Norton | 72 | 57 (79%) | 59 |
| 6 | Somerdale Educate Together Primary Academy · Keynsham | 33 | 28 (85%) | 28 |
| 7 | Newbridge Primary School · Bath | 67 | 57 (85%) | 57 |
| 8 | Longvernal Primary School · Radstock | 34 | 29 (85%) | 30 |
| 9 | Moorlands Infant School · Bath | 64 | 56 (88%) | 59 |
| 10 | St John's Church of England Primary School · Bristol · faith | 33 | 29 (88%) | 30 |
| 11 | St Stephens Church School · Bath · faith | 64 | 59 (92%) | 60 |
| 12 | Combe Down CofE Primary School · Bath · faith | 56 | 53 (95%) | 60 |
| 13 | Oldfield Park Infant School · Bath | 54 | 52 (96%) | 60 |
| 14 | Castle Primary School · Bristol | 54 | 54 (100%) | 59 |
| 15 | Whitchurch Primary School · Bristol | 40 | 40 (100%) | 45 |
| 16 | Peasedown St John Primary School · Bath | 39 | 39 (100%) | 41 |
| 17 | Paulton Infant School · Bristol | 38 | 38 (100%) | 40 |
| 18 | Westfield Primary School · Radstock | 35 | 35 (100%) | 39 |
| 19 | St John's Catholic Primary School · Bath · faith | 34 | 34 (100%) | 40 |
| 20 | Weston All Saints CofE Primary School · Bath · faith | 34 | 34 (100%) | 35 |
| 21 | Twerton Infant School · Bath | 33 | 33 (100%) | 36 |
| 22 | St Keyna Primary School · Bristol | 32 | 32 (100%) | 36 |
| 23 | Chandag Primary School · Bristol | 31 | 31 (100%) | 32 |
| 24 | Two Rivers Church of England Primary · Bristol · faith | 30 | 30 (100%) | 44 |
| 25 | St Andrew's Church School · Bath · faith | 30 | 30 (100%) | 30 |
| 26 | St Mary's CofE Primary School · Bath · faith | 30 | 30 (100%) | 30 |
| 27 | St John's CofE Primary School · Radstock · faith | 30 | 30 (100%) | 32 |
| 28 | Bathwick St Mary Church School · Bath · faith | 28 | 28 (100%) | 28 |
| 29 | St Mary's Catholic Primary School · Bath · faith | 28 | 28 (100%) | 29 |
| 30 | Bathford Church School · Bath · faith | 28 | 28 (100%) | 28 |
| 31 | St Saviours Infant Church School · Bath · faith | 27 | 27 (100%) | 29 |
| 32 | St Martin's Garden Primary School · Bath | 26 | 26 (100%) | 27 |
| 33 | High Littleton CofE VC Primary School · Bristol · faith | 25 | 25 (100%) | 28 |
| 34 | Midsomer Norton Primary School · Radstock | 23 | 23 (100%) | 24 |
| 35 | St Philip's CofE Primary School · Bath · faith | 23 | 23 (100%) | 25 |
| 36 | Bishop Sutton Primary School · Bristol | 22 | 22 (100%) | 22 |
| 37 | Batheaston Church School · Bath · faith | 21 | 21 (100%) | 21 |
| 38 | Trinity Church School · Bath · faith | 21 | 21 (100%) | 22 |
| 39 | St Mary's Church of England Primary School · Radstock · faith | 20 | 20 (100%) | 20 |
Getting into a school in Bath and North East Somerset
What is the hardest school to get into in Bath and North East Somerset?
For secondary places, 256 families put Beechen Cliff School first in 2026 and 165 of them (65%) were offered a place. For Reception, 37 families put Chew Stoke Church School first and 28 of them (76%) were offered a place.
How many families in Bath and North East Somerset get their first-choice school?
88.4% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 94.1% of those applying for Reception did (offers for September 2026).
Does putting a school first improve our chances?
Not at the other schools you name. Councils in England use an equal-preference system: every school you list is considered against its own admissions criteria, and if more than one could offer a place you get the one you ranked highest. So list schools in your genuine order of preference, and include at least one you are very likely to get.
What does "last distance offered" mean?
For schools that give places by distance, it is how far from the school the last child offered a place under that criterion lived. It changes every year with the number and location of applicants, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. We show it where Bath and North East Somerset published it in its admissions booklet.