The hardest schools to get into in Wokingham
Secondary: 297 families put Maiden Erlegh School first in 2026 and 205 of them (69%) were offered a place.
Reception: 116 families put Alder Grove Church of England Primary School first in 2026 and 57 of them (49%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Wokingham 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 | Maiden Erlegh School · Reading | 297 | 205 (69%) | 268 |
| 2 | The Holt School · Wokingham | 276 | 219 (79%) | 237 |
| 3 | The Piggott School · Reading · faith | 246 | 204 (83%) | 220 |
| 4 | Bohunt School Wokingham · Wokingham | 273 | 227 (83%) | 267 |
| 5 | St Crispin's School · Wokingham | 214 | 191 (89%) | 222 |
| 6 | The Emmbrook School · Wokingham | 198 | 181 (91%) | 221 |
| 7 | The Bulmershe School · Reading | 206 | 190 (92%) | 233 |
| 8 | The Forest School · Wokingham | 186 | 178 (96%) | 239 |
| 9 | Waingels · Reading | 173 | 173 (100%) | 235 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Wokingham
What is the hardest school to get into in Wokingham?
For secondary places, 297 families put Maiden Erlegh School first in 2026 and 205 of them (69%) were offered a place. For Reception, 116 families put Alder Grove Church of England Primary School first and 57 of them (49%) were offered a place.
Maiden Erlegh SchoolAlder Grove Church of England Primary School
How many families in Wokingham get their first-choice school?
82.4% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 87.5% 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 Wokingham published it in its admissions booklet.