Where is a first-choice secondary place hardest to get?
DfE ยท Sept 2026 entry- Wolverhampton 75%
- Birmingham 76%
- Telford and Wrekin 76%
- Walsall 77%
- Solihull 80%
- Sandwell 81%
- Coventry 82%
- Warwickshire 82%
- Dudley 87%
- Worcestershire 88%
- Stoke-on-Trent 89%
- Shropshire 91%
- Staffordshire 92%
- Herefordshire, County of 92%
Local authorities compared
Medians are of schools, not pupils
Sorted by the median secondary school's applications per place for September 2026, highest first.
| Local authority | Secondary per place | First choice | Attainment 8 | KS2 expected | Report cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 4.2 | 76% | 45.3 | 66% | 60 |
| Solihull | 3.2 | 80% | 46.1 | 68% | 18 |
| Warwickshire | 2.6 | 82% | 46.0 | 64% | 52 |
| Telford and Wrekin | 2.5 | 76% | 44.8 | 66% | 9 |
| Walsall | 2.4 | 77% | 41.0 | 64% | 22 |
| Sandwell | 2.4 | 81% | 41.4 | 62% | 26 |
| Dudley | 2.3 | 87% | 44.2 | 64% | 19 |
| Coventry | 2.1 | 82% | 44.6 | 62% | 17 |
| Wolverhampton | 2.0 | 75% | 45.7 | 67% | 18 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 1.9 | 89% | 40.7 | 62% | 21 |
| Staffordshire | 1.8 | 92% | 43.5 | 67% | 74 |
| Herefordshire, County of | 1.8 | 92% | 46.3 | 65% | 13 |
| Shropshire | 1.8 | 91% | 41.9 | 61% | 16 |
| Worcestershire | 1.7 | 88% | 43.9 | 63% | 36 |