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The hardest schools to get into in Blackpool

Secondary: 298 families put St George's School A Church of England Academy first in 2026 and 200 of them (67%) were offered a place.

Reception: 41 families put Westcliff Primary Academy first in 2026 and 28 of them (68%) were offered a place.

Every state school in Blackpool 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)

#SchoolPut it firstOf them, offeredPlaces
1St George's School A Church of England Academy · Blackpool · faith298200 (67%)207
2St Mary's Catholic Academy · Blackpool · faith245192 (78%)204
3Armfield Academy · Blackpool180148 (82%)159
4Montgomery Academy · Blackpool232222 (96%)248
5Unity Academy Blackpool · Blackpool102101 (99%)112
6Highfield Leadership Academy · Blackpool121121 (100%)185
7Blackpool Aspire Academy · Blackpool117117 (100%)141
8South Shore Academy · Blackpool7777 (100%)124

Primary schools (Reception)

#SchoolPut it firstOf them, offeredPlaces
1Westcliff Primary Academy · Blackpool4128 (68%)29
2Kincraig Primary School · Blackpool3227 (84%)29
3Holy Family Catholic Primary School · Blackpool · faith3530 (86%)30
4Roseacre Primary Academy · Blackpool6758 (87%)60
5St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School · Blackpool · faith3127 (87%)30
6Christ The King Catholic Academy · Blackpool · faith3228 (88%)30
7Moor Park Primary School · Blackpool3027 (90%)28
8Unity Academy Blackpool · Blackpool3330 (91%)30
9Stanley Primary School · Blackpool9184 (92%)86
10St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool · Blackpool · faith6157 (93%)60
11Armfield Academy · Blackpool6258 (94%)59
12Marton Primary Academy and Nursery · Blackpool3129 (94%)30
13Blackpool St Nicholas CofE Primary School · Blackpool · faith6259 (95%)60
14Devonshire Primary Academy · Blackpool6059 (98%)60
15Layton Primary School · Blackpool7069 (99%)78
16Norbreck Primary Academy · Thornton-Cleveleys7978 (99%)86
17Anchorsholme Primary Academy · Thornton-Cleveleys5959 (100%)62
18Waterloo Primary Academy · Blackpool5151 (100%)52
19Boundary Primary School · Blackpool4444 (100%)44
20Thames Primary Academy · Blackpool3838 (100%)43
21Baines' Endowed Church of England Primary Academy · Blackpool · faith3535 (100%)39
22Westminster Primary Academy · Blackpool3232 (100%)38
23Blackpool Gateway Academy · Blackpool3030 (100%)30
24Revoe Learning Academy · Blackpool2727 (100%)33
25Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Primary School, Blackpool · Blackpool · faith2626 (100%)27
26St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School · Blackpool · faith2626 (100%)29
27Bispham Endowed Church of England Primary School · Blackpool · faith2525 (100%)28
28Blackpool St John's Church of England Primary School · Blackpool · faith2424 (100%)25
29Mereside Primary Academy · Blackpool2323 (100%)24
30Hawes Side Academy · Blackpool2323 (100%)26
31St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy · Blackpool · faith2222 (100%)22
32St Teresa's Catholic Primary School · Thornton-Cleveleys · faith2121 (100%)22

Getting into a school in Blackpool

What is the hardest school to get into in Blackpool?

For secondary places, 298 families put St George's School A Church of England Academy first in 2026 and 200 of them (67%) were offered a place. For Reception, 41 families put Westcliff Primary Academy first and 28 of them (68%) were offered a place.

St George's School A Church of England AcademyWestcliff Primary Academy

How many families in Blackpool get their first-choice school?

84.9% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 93.9% 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 Blackpool published it in its admissions booklet.

Deadlines and how to apply in BlackpoolAll schools in BlackpoolHardest schools in England