The hardest schools to get into in Knowsley
Secondary: 269 families put All Saints Catholic High School first in 2026 and 196 of them (73%) were offered a place.
Reception: 112 families put Malvern Primary School first in 2026 and 59 of them (53%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Knowsley 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 | All Saints Catholic High School · Knowsley · faith | 269 | 196 (73%) | 201 |
| 2 | Lord Derby Academy · Liverpool | 284 | 208 (73%) | 217 |
| 3 | Halewood Academy · Knowsley | 256 | 216 (84%) | 236 |
| 4 | Kirkby High School · Liverpool | 158 | 150 (95%) | 195 |
| 5 | The Prescot School · Liverpool | 132 | 132 (100%) | 202 |
| 6 | Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy · Prescot · faith | 74 | 74 (100%) | 193 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Knowsley
What is the hardest school to get into in Knowsley?
For secondary places, 269 families put All Saints Catholic High School first in 2026 and 196 of them (73%) were offered a place. For Reception, 112 families put Malvern Primary School first and 59 of them (53%) were offered a place.
How many families in Knowsley get their first-choice school?
78.1% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 86.6% 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 Knowsley published it in its admissions booklet.