The hardest schools to get into in Halton
Secondary: 393 families put Wade Deacon High School first in 2026 and 341 of them (87%) were offered a place.
Reception: 43 families put Moore Primary School first in 2026 and 27 of them (63%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Halton 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 | Wade Deacon High School · Widnes | 393 | 341 (87%) | 343 |
| 2 | Sandymoor Ormiston Academy · Runcorn | 158 | 147 (93%) | 148 |
| 3 | Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School · Widnes · faith | 247 | 242 (98%) | 271 |
| 4 | The Heath School · Runcorn | 216 | 216 (100%) | 223 |
| 5 | Ormiston Chadwick Academy · Widnes | 152 | 152 (100%) | 170 |
| 6 | The Grange School · Runcorn | 139 | 139 (100%) | 142 |
| 7 | Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy · Runcorn | 93 | 93 (100%) | 96 |
| 8 | Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy · Runcorn · faith | 57 | 57 (100%) | 59 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Halton
What is the hardest school to get into in Halton?
For secondary places, 393 families put Wade Deacon High School first in 2026 and 341 of them (87%) were offered a place. For Reception, 43 families put Moore Primary School first and 27 of them (63%) were offered a place.
How many families in Halton get their first-choice school?
96.2% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 93.4% 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 Halton published it in its admissions booklet.