The hardest schools to get into in Hackney
Secondary: 358 families put Mossbourne Community Academy first in 2026 and 175 of them (49%) were offered a place.
Reception: 106 families put Mossbourne Riverside Academy first in 2026 and 59 of them (56%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Hackney 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 | Mossbourne Community Academy · London | 358 | 175 (49%) | 204 |
| 2 | Clapton Girls' Academy · London | 258 | 154 (60%) | 171 |
| 3 | Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy · London | 229 | 151 (66%) | 159 |
| 4 | City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park · London | 205 | 137 (67%) | 170 |
| 5 | The City Academy, Hackney · London | 165 | 129 (78%) | 173 |
| 6 | Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form · London | 210 | 172 (82%) | 247 |
| 7 | The Bridge Academy · London | 128 | 122 (95%) | 175 |
| 8 | Cardinal Pole Catholic School · London · faith | 124 | 124 (100%) | 155 |
| 9 | Skinners' Academy · London | 98 | 98 (100%) | 119 |
| 10 | Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School · London · faith | 79 | 79 (100%) | 79 |
| 11 | The Excelsior Academy · London | 77 | 77 (100%) | 139 |
| 12 | The Urswick School - A Church of England Secondary School · London · faith | 67 | 67 (100%) | 85 |
| 13 | All Saints Catholic High School · London · faith | 66 | 66 (100%) | 104 |
| 14 | Haggerston School · London | 62 | 62 (100%) | 131 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Hackney
What is the hardest school to get into in Hackney?
For secondary places, 358 families put Mossbourne Community Academy first in 2026 and 175 of them (49%) were offered a place. For Reception, 106 families put Mossbourne Riverside Academy first and 59 of them (56%) were offered a place.
How many families in Hackney get their first-choice school?
74.6% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 88.1% 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 Hackney published it in its admissions booklet.