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The hardest schools to get into in North Lincolnshire

Secondary: 295 families put Frederick Gough School first in 2026 and 262 of them (89%) were offered a place.

Reception: 37 families put Scunthorpe CofE Primary School first in 2026 and 30 of them (81%) were offered a place.

Every state school in North Lincolnshire 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)

#SchoolPut it firstOf them, offeredPlaces
1Frederick Gough School · Scunthorpe295262 (89%)262
2Outwood Academy Foxhills · Scunthorpe161145 (90%)146
3Sir John Nelthorpe School · Brigg145138 (95%)144
4Baysgarth School · Barton-upon-Humber202202 (100%)206
5South Axholme Academy · Doncaster182182 (100%)186
6St Bede's Catholic Voluntary Academy · Scunthorpe · faith130130 (100%)142
7The Vale Academy · Brigg114114 (100%)120
8The St Lawrence Academy · Scunthorpe · faith112112 (100%)120
9Outwood Academy Brumby · Scunthorpe108108 (100%)116
10Melior Community Academy · Scunthorpe9696 (100%)111
11The Axholme Academy · Crowle9292 (100%)95
12Winterton Community Academy · Scunthorpe7777 (100%)78
13Kirton Academy · Gainsborough6666 (100%)74

Primary schools (Reception)

#SchoolPut it firstOf them, offeredPlaces
1Scunthorpe CofE Primary School · Scunthorpe · faith3730 (81%)30
2Bottesford Infant School · Scunthorpe8269 (84%)70
3Lincoln Gardens Primary School · Scunthorpe6658 (88%)60
4St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School · Scunthorpe · faith5044 (88%)44
5Holme Valley Primary School · Scunthorpe6558 (89%)59
6Bowmandale Primary School · Barton-upon-Humber6360 (95%)60
7John Harrison C of E Primary School · Barrow-upon-Humber · faith3029 (97%)29
8Priory Lane Community School · Scunthorpe3534 (97%)37
9Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue · Scunthorpe7878 (100%)82
10Berkeley Primary School · Scunthorpe6666 (100%)69
11Frodingham Infant School · Scunthorpe5555 (100%)58
12Bushfield Road Infant School · Scunthorpe5151 (100%)51
13Winterton Church of England Infants' School · Scunthorpe · faith4444 (100%)44
14Brigg Primary School · Brigg4242 (100%)43
15Westcliffe Primary School · Scunthorpe4040 (100%)41
16Oakfield Primary School · Scunthorpe4040 (100%)45
17Crosby Primary School · Scunthorpe3939 (100%)44
18St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy · Scunthorpe · faith3838 (100%)41
19Epworth Primary Academy · Doncaster3434 (100%)34
20Oasis Academy Parkwood · Scunthorpe3232 (100%)33
21Barton St Peter's CofE Primary School · Barton-upon-Humber · faith3030 (100%)30
22Scawby Academy · Brigg2929 (100%)29
23Enderby Road Infant School · Scunthorpe2828 (100%)32
24The Grange Primary School · Scunthorpe2727 (100%)31
25Saint Augustine Webster Catholic Voluntary Academy · Scunthorpe · faith2626 (100%)27
26Crowle Primary Academy · Crowle2525 (100%)26
27Haxey Cofe Primary Academy · Doncaster · faith2424 (100%)24
28St Mary's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy (Brigg) · Brigg · faith2323 (100%)23
29Belton All Saints CofE Primary School · Doncaster · faith2323 (100%)23
30Messingham Primary School · Scunthorpe2323 (100%)28
31Broughton Primary Academy · Brigg2222 (100%)23
32Willoughby Road Primary Academy · Scunthorpe2121 (100%)21
33Hibaldstow Academy · Brigg2020 (100%)20

Getting into a school in North Lincolnshire

What is the hardest school to get into in North Lincolnshire?

For secondary places, 295 families put Frederick Gough School first in 2026 and 262 of them (89%) were offered a place. For Reception, 37 families put Scunthorpe CofE Primary School first and 30 of them (81%) were offered a place.

Frederick Gough SchoolScunthorpe CofE Primary School

How many families in North Lincolnshire get their first-choice school?

96.2% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 96.7% 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 North Lincolnshire published it in its admissions booklet.

Deadlines and how to apply in North LincolnshireAll schools in North LincolnshireHardest schools in England