The hardest schools to get into in Gloucestershire
Secondary: 152 families put Ribston Hall High School first in 2026 and 75 of them (49%) were offered a place - places depend on the 11-plus.
Reception: 60 families put Christ Church CofE Primary School first in 2026 and 29 of them (48%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Gloucestershire 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 | Ribston Hall High School · Gloucester · grammar (11-plus) | 152 | 75 (49%) | 149 |
| 2 | Sir Thomas Rich's School · Gloucester · grammar (11-plus) | 194 | 126 (65%) | 150 |
| 3 | Stroud High School · Stroud · grammar (11-plus) | 197 | 130 (66%) | 149 |
| 4 | Marling School · Stroud · grammar (11-plus) | 164 | 109 (67%) | 149 |
| 5 | The High School Leckhampton · Cheltenham | 237 | 158 (67%) | 164 |
| 6 | The Crypt School · Gloucester · grammar (11-plus) | 158 | 106 (67%) | 147 |
| 7 | Pate's Grammar School · Cheltenham · grammar (11-plus) | 213 | 146 (69%) | 146 |
| 8 | Denmark Road High School · Gloucester · grammar (11-plus) | 190 | 135 (71%) | 147 |
| 9 | Thomas Keble School · Stroud | 164 | 117 (71%) | 123 |
| 10 | St Peter's Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre · Gloucester · faith | 297 | 212 (71%) | 230 |
| 11 | Balcarras School · Cheltenham | 239 | 175 (73%) | 181 |
| 12 | Churchdown School · Gloucester | 292 | 227 (78%) | 238 |
| 13 | Barnwood Park School · Gloucester | 156 | 122 (78%) | 164 |
| 14 | Chipping Campden School · Chipping Campden | 253 | 207 (82%) | 222 |
| 15 | Chosen Hill School · Gloucester | 211 | 176 (83%) | 209 |
| 16 | The Cotswold Academy · Cheltenham | 276 | 233 (84%) | 241 |
| 17 | Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre · Cheltenham | 276 | 236 (86%) | 292 |
| 18 | Katharine Lady Berkeley's School · Wotton-under-Edge | 284 | 257 (91%) | 261 |
| 19 | Cleeve School · Cheltenham | 312 | 286 (92%) | 304 |
| 20 | Holmleigh Park High School · Gloucester | 222 | 205 (92%) | 247 |
| 21 | Severn Vale School · Gloucester | 277 | 257 (93%) | 264 |
| 22 | Dene Magna and Sixth Form · Mitcheldean | 176 | 164 (93%) | 165 |
| 23 | Cirencester Deer Park School · Cirencester | 186 | 177 (95%) | 204 |
| 24 | Henley Bank High School · Gloucester | 148 | 143 (97%) | 185 |
| 25 | Winchcombe School · Cheltenham | 88 | 87 (99%) | 111 |
| 26 | Tewkesbury Academy · Tewkesbury | 143 | 142 (99%) | 180 |
| 27 | Archway School · Stroud | 145 | 144 (99%) | 203 |
| 28 | The Dean Academy · Lydney | 162 | 161 (99%) | 165 |
| 29 | Rednock School · Dursley | 207 | 207 (100%) | 221 |
| 30 | Farmor's School · Fairford | 152 | 152 (100%) | 164 |
| 31 | Cirencester Kingshill School · Cirencester | 141 | 141 (100%) | 154 |
| 32 | Gloucester Academy · Gloucester | 137 | 137 (100%) | 227 |
| 33 | Maidenhill School · Stonehouse | 131 | 131 (100%) | 147 |
| 34 | Pittville School · Cheltenham | 129 | 129 (100%) | 162 |
| 35 | All Saints' Academy, Cheltenham · Cheltenham · faith | 123 | 123 (100%) | 205 |
| 36 | Five Acres High School · Coleford | 120 | 120 (100%) | 130 |
| 37 | Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre · Newent | 104 | 104 (100%) | 143 |
| 38 | Wyedean School and Sixth Form Centre · Chepstow | 78 | 78 (100%) | 79 |
| 39 | Sir William Romney's School · Tetbury | 69 | 69 (100%) | 85 |
| 40 | SGS Forest High School · Cinderford | 30 | 30 (100%) | 35 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Gloucestershire
What is the hardest school to get into in Gloucestershire?
For secondary places, 152 families put Ribston Hall High School first in 2026 and 75 of them (49%) were offered a place - places depend on the 11-plus. For Reception, 60 families put Christ Church CofE Primary School first and 29 of them (48%) were offered a place.
How many families in Gloucestershire get their first-choice school?
86.8% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 91.6% 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 Gloucestershire published it in its admissions booklet.