Parents, carers and families across Sheffield today learned which secondary school their children have been allocated.
The overall number of children receiving a place at their top three preferences was down slightly from 96.89% to 96.74%.
However, there was a slight increases in both the number of children who will be attending their first choice school for the academic year 2026/27 as well as the percentage of applicants this represents. For 2025/26, the number of pupils securing their first choice was 5,978 – 89.02% of applicants. For 2026/27, this has increased to 6,042 pupils – 89.22% of applicants.
The Council has worked with the secondary education sector to deliver more places for the city’s children, resulting in an additional 204 Year 7 places for the 2026/27 academic year, across 12 schools. Further additional places are in the process of being found for both the 2027/28 and 2028/29 academic years.
The following outcomes are reported for the Sheffield Local Authority based on the position at the National Allocation Day today (Monday 2nd March):
- First preferences met – 89.22% (6,042 pupils)
- Second preferences met – 6.04% (409 pupils)
- Third preferences met – 1.48% (100 pupils)
- No preferences met – 3.26% (221 pupils)
While the number of preferences met is very high, it is unfortunately not always possible to accommodate all catchment area applicants because places are limited by the size of the school. This figure is also slightly up from 209 pupils (3.11%) in 2025, although the percentage of pupils represented has dropped.
If a pupil has not been offered a place at one of its three preferred schools, a place will be offered at the nearest available school.
It’s fantastic that even more children in Sheffield will be attending their first choice secondary school this September.
With the planned changes for education proposed in the Government’s White Paper on education this week, we hope this next group of children are excited to take their next steps in education this autumn.
We know it will be frustrating for those that didn’t get their choice of school, but the numbers who don’t get any of their three preferred choices remains very low. If that is unfortunately the case for your child, then the independent appeal panel will hear your case.
Cllr Dawn Dale, Chair of the Education, Children’s and Families Committee at Sheffield City Council
Appeals
Parents of pupils not eligible for a place to any of their preferred schools have the right to appeal against the refusal to an independent appeal panel. Further information will be sent to parents about the appeal procedure. Appeals will be held between May and July.
Please note, appeal forms for Sheffield schools must be returned to the Legal & Governance Team at Sheffield Town Hall by the Friday, 27 March.
The Local Authority holds waiting lists for pupils who didn’t get a place at a school that they ranked higher than that which was allocated. Parents should be aware there is no guarantee of obtaining a school place from the waiting list but to bear in mind that there is always movement between March and September.
The waiting list will come into operation from today (Monday 2 March) and will be maintained until 31st December, 2026.
Help and Advice
The Admissions Team is available to provide advice and guidance about how to appeal, waiting list positions and other schools with places available.
The Admissions Team can be emailed to find out which other schools have places available and make any request to change their preferences.
Alternatively, further information is available on the Sheffield City Council school places site.
Parents are always strongly advised to use all three preferences to enhance their chances of obtaining a place at one of their preferred schools.