The hardest schools to get into in Southampton
Secondary: 150 families put St Mark's Church of England School first in 2026 and 85 of them (57%) were offered a place.
Reception: 126 families put Springhill Catholic Primary School first in 2026 and 86 of them (68%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Southampton 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 | St Mark's Church of England School · Southampton · faith | 150 | 85 (57%) | 113 |
| 2 | Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton · Southampton · faith | 299 | 188 (63%) | 191 |
| 3 | Cantell School · Southampton | 318 | 225 (71%) | 239 |
| 4 | Upper Shirley High School · Southampton | 248 | 197 (79%) | 215 |
| 5 | Oasis Academy Sholing · Southampton | 225 | 192 (85%) | 209 |
| 6 | Bitterne Park School · Southampton | 336 | 297 (88%) | 332 |
| 7 | Woodlands Community College · Southampton | 192 | 172 (90%) | 180 |
| 8 | Redbridge Community School · Southampton | 230 | 219 (95%) | 223 |
| 9 | Regents Park Community College · Southampton | 124 | 119 (96%) | 146 |
| 10 | St Anne's Catholic School · Southampton · faith | 167 | 166 (99%) | 205 |
| 11 | Oasis Academy Mayfield · Southampton | 125 | 125 (100%) | 178 |
| 12 | Weston Secondary School · Southampton | 70 | 70 (100%) | 116 |
| 13 | Oasis Academy Lord's Hill · Southampton | 42 | 42 (100%) | 151 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Southampton
What is the hardest school to get into in Southampton?
For secondary places, 150 families put St Mark's Church of England School first in 2026 and 85 of them (57%) were offered a place. For Reception, 126 families put Springhill Catholic Primary School first and 86 of them (68%) were offered a place.
St Mark's Church of England SchoolSpringhill Catholic Primary School
How many families in Southampton get their first-choice school?
83.4% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 93.3% 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 Southampton published it in its admissions booklet.