The hardest schools to get into in Wirral
Secondary: 163 families put Birkenhead High School Academy first in 2026 and 111 of them (68%) were offered a place.
Reception: 49 families put Brookdale Primary School first in 2026 and 30 of them (61%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Wirral 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 | Birkenhead High School Academy · Prenton | 163 | 111 (68%) | 116 |
| 2 | Co-op Academy Bebington · Wirral | 210 | 176 (84%) | 177 |
| 3 | Wirral Grammar School for Boys · Wirral · grammar (11-plus) | 190 | 166 (87%) | 167 |
| 4 | Wirral Grammar School for Girls · Wirral · grammar (11-plus) | 199 | 177 (89%) | 178 |
| 5 | Calday Grange Grammar School · Wirral · grammar (11-plus) | 222 | 200 (90%) | 202 |
| 6 | Hilbre High School · Wirral | 181 | 166 (92%) | 178 |
| 7 | Upton Hall School FCJ · Wirral · grammar (11-plus) | 166 | 153 (92%) | 156 |
| 8 | Weatherhead High School · Wallasey | 271 | 254 (94%) | 259 |
| 9 | Woodchurch High School · Wirral · faith | 247 | 236 (96%) | 253 |
| 10 | Prenton High School for Girls · Birkenhead | 137 | 132 (96%) | 147 |
| 11 | Pensby High School · Wirral | 165 | 159 (96%) | 173 |
| 12 | West Kirby Grammar School · Wirral · grammar (11-plus) | 163 | 160 (98%) | 172 |
| 13 | St John Plessington Catholic College · Wirral · faith | 195 | 195 (100%) | 207 |
| 14 | South Wirral High School · Wirral | 164 | 164 (100%) | 178 |
| 15 | St Mary's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy · Wallasey · faith | 160 | 160 (100%) | 168 |
| 16 | St Anselm's College · Prenton · grammar (11-plus) | 155 | 155 (100%) | 157 |
| 17 | The Mosslands School · Wallasey | 133 | 133 (100%) | 138 |
| 18 | Birkenhead Park School · Birkenhead | 132 | 132 (100%) | 152 |
| 19 | Ridgeway High School · Prenton | 104 | 104 (100%) | 129 |
| 20 | Co-op Academy Oldershaw · Wallasey | 82 | 82 (100%) | 102 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Wirral
What is the hardest school to get into in Wirral?
For secondary places, 163 families put Birkenhead High School Academy first in 2026 and 111 of them (68%) were offered a place. For Reception, 49 families put Brookdale Primary School first and 30 of them (61%) were offered a place.
How many families in Wirral get their first-choice school?
95.3% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 95.3% 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 Wirral published it in its admissions booklet.