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)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St George's School A Church of England Academy · Blackpool · faith | 298 | 200 (67%) | 207 |
| 2 | St Mary's Catholic Academy · Blackpool · faith | 245 | 192 (78%) | 204 |
| 3 | Armfield Academy · Blackpool | 180 | 148 (82%) | 159 |
| 4 | Montgomery Academy · Blackpool | 232 | 222 (96%) | 248 |
| 5 | Unity Academy Blackpool · Blackpool | 102 | 101 (99%) | 112 |
| 6 | Highfield Leadership Academy · Blackpool | 121 | 121 (100%) | 185 |
| 7 | Blackpool Aspire Academy · Blackpool | 117 | 117 (100%) | 141 |
| 8 | South Shore Academy · Blackpool | 77 | 77 (100%) | 124 |
Primary schools (Reception)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westcliff Primary Academy · Blackpool | 41 | 28 (68%) | 29 |
| 2 | Kincraig Primary School · Blackpool | 32 | 27 (84%) | 29 |
| 3 | Holy Family Catholic Primary School · Blackpool · faith | 35 | 30 (86%) | 30 |
| 4 | Roseacre Primary Academy · Blackpool | 67 | 58 (87%) | 60 |
| 5 | St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School · Blackpool · faith | 31 | 27 (87%) | 30 |
| 6 | Christ The King Catholic Academy · Blackpool · faith | 32 | 28 (88%) | 30 |
| 7 | Moor Park Primary School · Blackpool | 30 | 27 (90%) | 28 |
| 8 | Unity Academy Blackpool · Blackpool | 33 | 30 (91%) | 30 |
| 9 | Stanley Primary School · Blackpool | 91 | 84 (92%) | 86 |
| 10 | St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool · Blackpool · faith | 61 | 57 (93%) | 60 |
| 11 | Armfield Academy · Blackpool | 62 | 58 (94%) | 59 |
| 12 | Marton Primary Academy and Nursery · Blackpool | 31 | 29 (94%) | 30 |
| 13 | Blackpool St Nicholas CofE Primary School · Blackpool · faith | 62 | 59 (95%) | 60 |
| 14 | Devonshire Primary Academy · Blackpool | 60 | 59 (98%) | 60 |
| 15 | Layton Primary School · Blackpool | 70 | 69 (99%) | 78 |
| 16 | Norbreck Primary Academy · Thornton-Cleveleys | 79 | 78 (99%) | 86 |
| 17 | Anchorsholme Primary Academy · Thornton-Cleveleys | 59 | 59 (100%) | 62 |
| 18 | Waterloo Primary Academy · Blackpool | 51 | 51 (100%) | 52 |
| 19 | Boundary Primary School · Blackpool | 44 | 44 (100%) | 44 |
| 20 | Thames Primary Academy · Blackpool | 38 | 38 (100%) | 43 |
| 21 | Baines' Endowed Church of England Primary Academy · Blackpool · faith | 35 | 35 (100%) | 39 |
| 22 | Westminster Primary Academy · Blackpool | 32 | 32 (100%) | 38 |
| 23 | Blackpool Gateway Academy · Blackpool | 30 | 30 (100%) | 30 |
| 24 | Revoe Learning Academy · Blackpool | 27 | 27 (100%) | 33 |
| 25 | Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Primary School, Blackpool · Blackpool · faith | 26 | 26 (100%) | 27 |
| 26 | St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School · Blackpool · faith | 26 | 26 (100%) | 29 |
| 27 | Bispham Endowed Church of England Primary School · Blackpool · faith | 25 | 25 (100%) | 28 |
| 28 | Blackpool St John's Church of England Primary School · Blackpool · faith | 24 | 24 (100%) | 25 |
| 29 | Mereside Primary Academy · Blackpool | 23 | 23 (100%) | 24 |
| 30 | Hawes Side Academy · Blackpool | 23 | 23 (100%) | 26 |
| 31 | St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy · Blackpool · faith | 22 | 22 (100%) | 22 |
| 32 | St Teresa's Catholic Primary School · Thornton-Cleveleys · faith | 21 | 21 (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.