The hardest schools to get into in Oldham
Secondary: 458 families put The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy first in 2026 and 146 of them (32%) were offered a place.
Reception: 48 families put Fir Bank Primary School first in 2026 and 28 of them (58%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Oldham 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 Brian Clarke Church of England Academy · Oldham · faith | 458 | 146 (32%) | 224 |
| 2 | The Blue Coat CofE School · Oldham · faith | 611 | 228 (37%) | 232 |
| 3 | The Crompton House Church of England Academy · Oldham · faith | 333 | 261 (78%) | 296 |
| 4 | North Chadderton School · Oldham | 288 | 237 (82%) | 262 |
| 5 | The Hathershaw College · Oldham | 167 | 158 (95%) | 200 |
| 6 | Co-op Academy Failsworth · Manchester | 300 | 284 (95%) | 313 |
| 7 | Saddleworth School · Oldham | 268 | 258 (96%) | 293 |
| 8 | Oasis Academy Leesbrook · Oldham | 156 | 155 (99%) | 252 |
| 9 | The Radclyffe School · Oldham | 197 | 197 (100%) | 292 |
| 10 | Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy · Oldham · faith | 186 | 186 (100%) | 265 |
| 11 | Oasis Academy Oldham · Oldham | 172 | 172 (100%) | 248 |
| 12 | E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy · Oldham | 152 | 152 (100%) | 221 |
| 13 | E-ACT the Oldham Academy North · Oldham | 83 | 83 (100%) | 232 |
| 14 | Co-op Academy Strinesdale · Oldham | 61 | 61 (100%) | 83 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Oldham
What is the hardest school to get into in Oldham?
For secondary places, 458 families put The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy first in 2026 and 146 of them (32%) were offered a place. For Reception, 48 families put Fir Bank Primary School first and 28 of them (58%) were offered a place.
The Brian Clarke Church of England AcademyFir Bank Primary School
How many families in Oldham get their first-choice school?
75.2% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 92.0% 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 Oldham published it in its admissions booklet.