The hardest schools to get into in Warrington
Secondary: 226 families put King's Leadership Academy Warrington first in 2026 and 164 of them (73%) were offered a place.
Reception: 101 families put Grappenhall Heys Community Primary School first in 2026 and 56 of them (55%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Warrington 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 | King's Leadership Academy Warrington · Warrington | 226 | 164 (73%) | 165 |
| 2 | St Gregory's Catholic High School · Warrington · faith | 314 | 231 (74%) | 240 |
| 3 | Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School · Warrington · faith | 199 | 163 (82%) | 175 |
| 4 | Lymm High School · Lymm | 363 | 300 (83%) | 309 |
| 5 | Beamont Collegiate Academy · Warrington | 208 | 176 (85%) | 180 |
| 6 | Bridgewater High School · Warrington | 292 | 289 (99%) | 358 |
| 7 | Great Sankey High School · Warrington | 278 | 278 (100%) | 325 |
| 8 | Culcheth High School · Warrington | 190 | 190 (100%) | 198 |
| 9 | Penketh High School · Warrington | 180 | 180 (100%) | 216 |
| 10 | Birchwood Community High School · Warrington | 168 | 168 (100%) | 180 |
| 11 | Padgate Academy · Warrington | 121 | 121 (100%) | 160 |
| 12 | Cardinal Newman Catholic High School · Warrington · faith | 104 | 104 (100%) | 142 |
| 13 | Bruche Academy · Warrington | 22 | 22 (100%) | 28 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Warrington
What is the hardest school to get into in Warrington?
For secondary places, 226 families put King's Leadership Academy Warrington first in 2026 and 164 of them (73%) were offered a place. For Reception, 101 families put Grappenhall Heys Community Primary School first and 56 of them (55%) were offered a place.
King's Leadership Academy WarringtonGrappenhall Heys Community Primary School
How many families in Warrington get their first-choice school?
88.9% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 91.9% 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 Warrington published it in its admissions booklet.