The hardest schools to get into in Coventry
Secondary: 471 families put President Kennedy School Academy first in 2026 and 280 of them (59%) were offered a place.
Reception: 79 families put Holy Family Catholic Primary School first in 2026 and 57 of them (72%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Coventry 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 | President Kennedy School Academy · Coventry | 471 | 280 (59%) | 297 |
| 2 | Sidney Stringer Academy · Coventry | 319 | 198 (62%) | 209 |
| 3 | Barr's Hill School · Coventry | 223 | 152 (68%) | 180 |
| 4 | Blue Coat Church of England School and Music College · Coventry · faith | 341 | 245 (72%) | 275 |
| 5 | Eden Girls' School, Coventry · Coventry · faith | 175 | 135 (77%) | 150 |
| 6 | Finham Park School · Coventry | 257 | 215 (84%) | 270 |
| 7 | Ernesford Grange Community Academy · Coventry | 210 | 182 (87%) | 210 |
| 8 | St John Henry Newman Catholic School · Coventry · faith | 248 | 217 (88%) | 250 |
| 9 | Caludon Castle School · Coventry | 236 | 213 (90%) | 238 |
| 10 | Stoke Park School · Coventry | 188 | 176 (94%) | 210 |
| 11 | Finham Park 2 · Coventry | 170 | 164 (97%) | 180 |
| 12 | Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School · Coventry · faith | 188 | 184 (98%) | 210 |
| 13 | West Coventry Academy · Coventry | 227 | 227 (100%) | 240 |
| 14 | Coundon Court · Coventry | 199 | 199 (100%) | 340 |
| 15 | Grace Academy Coventry · Coventry | 163 | 163 (100%) | 189 |
| 16 | Foxford Community School · Coventry | 155 | 155 (100%) | 207 |
| 17 | Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School · Coventry · faith | 153 | 153 (100%) | 199 |
| 18 | Lyng Hall School · Coventry | 118 | 118 (100%) | 179 |
| 19 | The Westwood Academy · Coventry | 89 | 89 (100%) | 117 |
| 20 | Seva School · Coventry · faith | 62 | 62 (100%) | 69 |
| 21 | Meadow Park School · Coventry | 49 | 49 (100%) | 122 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Coventry
What is the hardest school to get into in Coventry?
For secondary places, 471 families put President Kennedy School Academy first in 2026 and 280 of them (59%) were offered a place. For Reception, 79 families put Holy Family Catholic Primary School first and 57 of them (72%) were offered a place.
President Kennedy School AcademyHoly Family Catholic Primary School
How many families in Coventry get their first-choice school?
82.1% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 94.9% 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 Coventry published it in its admissions booklet.