Record number of Birmingham children receive preferred secondary school places

The data shows that most children entering secondary school this September have secured a place at one of their chosen schools, with a significant increase in first‑choice offers.

This year, 14,600 Birmingham pupils applied for a secondary school place. Despite a small decrease in overall applications, the picture for children receiving their preferred school is more positive than ever.

Key highlights for Birmingham pupils

• 97% of pupils were offered one of their six school preferences, an increase on last year.
• Nearly 76% secured their first-choice school, marking an improvement of nearly 2% from 2025.
• Only 2.5% of pupils were offered a school they had not listed as a preference, a decrease from last year.

These results demonstrate the strength of Birmingham’s secondary school system and reflect its continued progress in meeting the needs of children and families, both locally and regionally.

What this means for local children

The increase in first‑preference offers means that more children will begin secondary school in an environment that feels familiar, supportive, and aligned with their interests and aspirations. Research consistently shows that attending a preferred school can help ease the transition to secondary education, improving confidence, wellbeing, and long‑term attainment.

For Birmingham families, these results signal:

• Greater stability, with fewer children travelling long distances or attending schools outside the city.
• Improved access to local schools with strong reputations and deep ties to their communities.
• A smoother, less stressful transition for parents and pupils, who can start preparing earlier for the move to Year 7.

The rise in first‑choice allocations also reflects ongoing work with school leaders to ensure places are available where they are most needed across the city.

Councillor Mick Brown, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said:

“This is fantastic news for families across Birmingham. More children are receiving their first-choice secondary school, and that gives them the best possible start to the next stage of their education. Starting secondary school is a big moment and knowing you’re going to the school you hoped for brings real reassurance and excitement for pupils and their families. I want to thank our admissions team and our schools for their continued hard work and commitment to supporting Birmingham’s children.”

“These results show a system working well, providing stability, choice, and opportunity for young people across our city. Our priority remains ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education close to home.”

Applications from other local authorities

Birmingham schools continue to be in high demand. In 2026:

• 1,724 pupils living in neighbouring areas applied for a Birmingham school (up by 53).
• 589 of these children received one of their preferences.
• First‑preference offers for out-of-area applicants rose to 23%, reflecting the strong reputation of Birmingham’s provision.

Notes:

• Secondary National Offer Day is part of the coordinated national admissions process.
• Comparisons relate to data from 3 March 2025 and 2 March 2026.
• 96.95% of Birmingham applications were submitted online.
• Non‑online applications include paper submissions, adopted applications from other authorities, and internal EHCP transfers.