The hardest schools to get into in Kensington and Chelsea
Secondary: 244 families put The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School first in 2026 and 91 of them (37%) were offered a place.
Reception: 140 families put Fox Primary School first in 2026 and 55 of them (39%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Kensington and Chelsea 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 | The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School · London · faith | 244 | 91 (37%) | 123 |
| 2 | All Saints Catholic College · London · faith | 240 | 134 (56%) | 174 |
| 3 | Holland Park School · London | 311 | 183 (59%) | 255 |
| 4 | Kensington Aldridge Academy · London | 186 | 166 (89%) | 210 |
| 5 | Chelsea Academy · London · faith | 108 | 98 (91%) | 170 |
| 6 | St. Thomas More Language College · London · faith | 49 | 49 (100%) | 143 |
Primary schools (Reception)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fox Primary School · London | 140 | 55 (39%) | 58 |
| 2 | Thomas Jones Primary School · London | 69 | 29 (42%) | 29 |
| 3 | Christ Church CofE Primary School · London · faith | 62 | 30 (48%) | 30 |
| 4 | Oratory Roman Catholic Primary School · London · faith | 59 | 29 (49%) | 30 |
| 5 | St Joseph's Catholic Primary School · London · faith | 32 | 19 (59%) | 30 |
| 6 | Bousfield Primary School · London | 76 | 54 (71%) | 58 |
| 7 | Holy Trinity CofE Primary School · London · faith | 27 | 20 (74%) | 30 |
| 8 | Marlborough Primary School · London | 48 | 38 (79%) | 60 |
| 9 | Colville Primary School · London | 46 | 40 (87%) | 60 |
| 10 | Park Walk Primary School · London | 23 | 20 (87%) | 29 |
| 11 | Avondale Park Primary School · London | 26 | 25 (96%) | 29 |
| 12 | Barlby Primary School · London | 29 | 29 (100%) | 33 |
| 13 | Oxford Gardens Primary School · London | 26 | 26 (100%) | 29 |
| 14 | St Barnabas and St Philip's CofE Primary School · London · faith | 24 | 24 (100%) | 30 |
| 15 | St Thomas' CofE Primary School · London · faith | 22 | 22 (100%) | 27 |
| 16 | Kensington Primary Academy · London | 22 | 22 (100%) | 30 |
Getting into a school in Kensington and Chelsea
What is the hardest school to get into in Kensington and Chelsea?
For secondary places, 244 families put The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School first in 2026 and 91 of them (37%) were offered a place. For Reception, 140 families put Fox Primary School first and 55 of them (39%) were offered a place.
How many families in Kensington and Chelsea get their first-choice school?
66.8% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 75.4% 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 Kensington and Chelsea published it in its admissions booklet.