The hardest schools to get into in Hartlepool
Secondary: 339 families put High Tunstall College of Science first in 2026 and 263 of them (78%) were offered a place.
Reception: 55 families put West Park Primary School first in 2026 and 45 of them (82%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Hartlepool 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 | High Tunstall College of Science · Hartlepool | 339 | 263 (78%) | 263 |
| 2 | Dyke House Sports and Technology College · Hartlepool | 239 | 237 (99%) | 264 |
| 3 | English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College · Hartlepool · faith | 212 | 212 (100%) | 233 |
| 4 | Manor Community Academy · Hartlepool | 163 | 163 (100%) | 168 |
| 5 | St Hild's Church of England School · Hartlepool · faith | 85 | 85 (100%) | 109 |
Primary schools (Reception)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Park Primary School · Hartlepool | 55 | 45 (82%) | 45 |
| 2 | Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School · Hartlepool · faith | 31 | 29 (94%) | 30 |
| 3 | St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Hartlepool · Hartlepool · faith | 32 | 30 (94%) | 30 |
| 4 | Throston Primary School · Hartlepool | 58 | 56 (97%) | 60 |
| 5 | Eldon Grove Academy · Hartlepool | 67 | 67 (100%) | 68 |
| 6 | Rossmere Academy · Hartlepool | 55 | 55 (100%) | 55 |
| 7 | Fens Primary School · Hartlepool | 50 | 50 (100%) | 50 |
| 8 | Jesmond Gardens Primary School · Hartlepool | 42 | 42 (100%) | 42 |
| 9 | Kingsley Primary School · Hartlepool | 42 | 42 (100%) | 42 |
| 10 | Brougham Primary School · Hartlepool | 42 | 42 (100%) | 44 |
| 11 | West View Primary School · Hartlepool | 39 | 39 (100%) | 39 |
| 12 | Clavering Primary School · Hartlepool | 39 | 39 (100%) | 42 |
| 13 | St Aidan's Church of England Memorial Primary School · Hartlepool · faith | 38 | 38 (100%) | 38 |
| 14 | Lynnfield Primary School · Hartlepool | 36 | 36 (100%) | 36 |
| 15 | Stranton Primary School · Hartlepool | 31 | 31 (100%) | 31 |
| 16 | St Helen's Primary School · Hartlepool | 28 | 28 (100%) | 28 |
| 17 | St Teresa's Catholic Primary School · Hartlepool · faith | 28 | 28 (100%) | 28 |
| 18 | Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Hartlepool · Hartlepool · faith | 27 | 27 (100%) | 28 |
| 19 | Rift House Primary School · Hartlepool | 26 | 26 (100%) | 26 |
| 20 | St John Vianney Catholic Primary School, Hartlepool · Hartlepool · faith | 26 | 26 (100%) | 27 |
| 21 | Barnard Grove Primary School · Hartlepool | 26 | 26 (100%) | 27 |
| 22 | Grange Primary School · Hartlepool | 23 | 23 (100%) | 23 |
| 23 | Ward Jackson Church of England Primary School · Hartlepool · faith | 21 | 21 (100%) | 21 |
Getting into a school in Hartlepool
What is the hardest school to get into in Hartlepool?
For secondary places, 339 families put High Tunstall College of Science first in 2026 and 263 of them (78%) were offered a place. For Reception, 55 families put West Park Primary School first and 45 of them (82%) were offered a place.
How many families in Hartlepool get their first-choice school?
92.7% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 98.3% 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 Hartlepool published it in its admissions booklet.