The hardest schools to get into in Tower Hamlets
Secondary: 401 families put St Paul's Way Trust School first in 2026 and 191 of them (48%) were offered a place.
Reception: 50 families put St Peter's London Docks CofE Primary School first in 2026 and 30 of them (60%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Tower Hamlets 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; last distance offered from Tower Hamlets's admissions booklet.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places | Last distance offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Paul's Way Trust School · London | 401 | 191 (48%) | 200 | - |
| 2 | Swanlea School · London | 276 | 187 (68%) | 192 | - |
| 3 | Stepney All Saints Church of England Secondary School · London · faith | 234 | 160 (68%) | 188 | - |
| 4 | Mulberry School for Girls · London | 238 | 210 (88%) | 232 | - |
| 5 | Mulberry Stepney Green Mathematics and Computing College · London | 116 | 106 (91%) | 185 | - |
| 6 | George Green's School · London | 175 | 172 (98%) | 188 | - |
| 7 | Morpeth School · London | 177 | 176 (99%) | 219 | - |
| 8 | Central Foundation Girls' School · London | 170 | 170 (100%) | 214 | - |
| 9 | Mulberry Academy London Dock · London | 122 | 122 (100%) | 161 | - |
| 10 | Mulberry Academy Shoreditch · London | 119 | 119 (100%) | 143 | - |
| 11 | Langdon Park Community School · London | 106 | 106 (100%) | 167 | - |
| 12 | Bow School · London | 72 | 72 (100%) | 122 | - |
| 13 | Oaklands School · London | 67 | 67 (100%) | 86 | - |
| 14 | Bishop Challoner Catholic School · London · faith | 61 | 61 (100%) | 90 | - |
| 15 | Canary Wharf Secondary · London · faith | 59 | 59 (100%) | 74 | - |
| 16 | London Enterprise Academy · London | 34 | 34 (100%) | 55 | - |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Tower Hamlets
What is the hardest school to get into in Tower Hamlets?
For secondary places, 401 families put St Paul's Way Trust School first in 2026 and 191 of them (48%) were offered a place. For Reception, 50 families put St Peter's London Docks CofE Primary School first and 30 of them (60%) were offered a place.
St Paul's Way Trust SchoolSt Peter's London Docks CofE Primary School
How many families in Tower Hamlets get their first-choice school?
79.1% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 92.6% 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 Tower Hamlets published it in its admissions booklet.