School admissions in Preston

How heavily each school was applied to for September 2026 entry, from the applications and offers every admissions authority reports to the DfE. 48 of these schools also have a published admissions cutoff distance. Sorted by first preferences per place. We don't invent rankings: the order is arithmetic on a published figure, not a view about which school is better.

Preston in figures

For Reception places in September 2026, families named the 121 schools in Preston first 3,104 times for 3,111 places: 1.00 first choices per place, against 1.00 across the Lancashire authority's 472 schools. 29 of the 121 had more first choices than places. For 2026 entry, 23 schools here gave their last places on distance, from 0.30 miles (Eldon Primary School) to 3.50 miles (St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Preston).

For Year 7 places in September 2026, families named the 22 schools in Preston first 3,304 times for 3,358 places: 0.98 first choices per place, against 1.01 across the Lancashire authority's 80 schools. 9 of the 22 had more first choices than places. For 2026 entry, 5 schools here gave their last places on distance, from 0.50 miles (St Cecilia's RC High School) to 5.30 miles (Hutton Church of England Grammar School).

Totals for the schools listed on this page. Applications and offers on national offer day, DfE; last-offer distances as the council published them.

Reception places, September 2026

121 schools. 29 received more first preferences than they had places.

School	First preferences per place	Places	Cutoff distance
The Olive School, PrestonPreston	2.25	60	0.4 miles 2026
Harris Primary SchoolPreston	1.59	29	0.33 miles 2026
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Lea TownPreston	1.53	15	not published
Garstang St Thomas' Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.37	30	not published
Coupe Green Primary SchoolPreston	1.30	20	0.9 miles 2026
Fishwick Primary SchoolPreston	1.29	17	0.4 miles 2026
Ashton-on-Ribble St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.29	59	0.5 miles 2026
Cottam Primary SchoolPreston	1.28	60	0.45 miles 2026
St Francis Catholic Primary School, GoosnarghPreston	1.27	15	not published
The Willows Catholic Primary School, KirkhamPreston	1.26	31	not published
Queen's Drive Primary SchoolPreston	1.23	60	0.67 miles 2026
Tarleton Community Primary SchoolPreston	1.21	29	not published
Broughton-in-Amounderness Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.20	59	0.9 miles 2026
Barton St Lawrence Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.20	25	1.33 miles 2026
Brabins Endowed SchoolPreston	1.20	15	not published
Sherwood Primary SchoolPreston	1.15	60	0.95 miles 2026
Kirkland and Catterall St Helen's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolPreston	1.14	21	not published
Eldon Primary SchoolPreston	1.13	30	0.3 miles 2026
Kirkham St Michael's Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.13	30	0.6 miles 2026
Longsands Community Primary SchoolPreston	1.13	30	0.42 miles 2026
Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.13	30	1.7 miles 2026
Our Lady and St Edward's Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	1.13	30	not published
Penwortham Middleforth Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.13	30	0.6265 miles 2026
Walton-le-Dale Community Primary SchoolPreston	1.10	59	0.8 miles 2026
St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	1.10	30	0.5 miles 2026
Tarleton Holy Trinity CofE Primary SchoolPreston	1.10	31	not published
Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.03	30	not published
Holy Family Catholic Primary School, WartonPreston	1.03	30	0.7 miles 2026
Walton-le-Dale, St Leonard's Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.03	30	1.3 miles 2026
Brockholes Wood Community Primary School and NurseryPreston	1.00	23	not published
Calder Vale St John Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	3	not published
Clayton Brook Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	13	not published
Forton Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	12	not published
Freckleton Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	29	not published
Goosnargh Whitechapel Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	15	not published
Higher Walton Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	12	not published
Howick Church Endowed Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	12	not published
Kingsfold Primary SchoolPRESTON	1.00	17	not published
Lea Neeld's Endowed Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	20	not published
Little Hoole Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	20	not published
Moor Nook Community Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	14	not published
Penwortham Broad Oak Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	23	not published
Penwortham, St Teresa's Catholic Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	37	not published
Preston Grange Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	19	not published
Ribchester St Wilfrid's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	15	not published
Scorton Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	7	not published
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, BrindlePreston	1.00	11	not published
St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	16	not published
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Claughton-on-BrockPreston	1.00	4	not published
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Great EcclestonPreston	1.00	5	not published
St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, ChippingPreston	1.00	7	not published
St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	24	not published
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, LongtonPreston	1.00	23	not published
St William's Catholic Primary School, PillingPreston	1.00	5	not published
Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	8	not published
The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	1.00	29	not published
Treales Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	1	not published
Winmarleigh Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	1.00	2	not published
St Matthew's Church of England Primary AcademyPreston	0.98	44	not published
Our Lady and St Gerard's Roman Catholic Primary School, Lostock HallPreston	0.97	35	not published
Grimsargh St Michael's Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	0.97	29	not published
Cuerden Church School, Bamber BridgePreston	0.96	25	not published
Brindle Gregson Lane Primary SchoolPreston	0.96	23	not published
Longton Primary SchoolPreston	0.96	23	not published
St Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.95	21	not published
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.95	20	not published
St Mary and St Andrew's Catholic Primary School, Barton NewshamPreston	0.94	18	not published
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.94	35	not published
Leyland St Andrew's Church of England Infant SchoolPreston	0.94	51	not published
Medlar-with-Wesham Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	0.94	17	not published
Lostock Hall Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.94	48	not published
St Stephen's CofE SchoolPRESTON	0.94	32	not published
Whitefield Primary SchoolPreston	0.93	46	not published
Woodplumpton St Anne's CofE Primary SchoolPreston	0.93	15	not published
English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.93	29	not published
Warton St Paul's Church of England Primary AcademyPreston	0.93	14	not published
Hesketh-With-Becconsall All Saints CofE SchoolPreston	0.92	24	not published
Nateby Primary SchoolPreston	0.92	12	not published
New Longton All Saints CofE Primary SchoolPreston	0.92	24	not published
Longridge St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Primary SchoolPreston	0.91	22	not published
Pilling St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolPreston	0.91	11	not published
Ribby with Wrea Endowed CofE Primary SchoolPreston	0.91	22	1.8 miles 2026
Strike Lane Primary SchoolPreston	0.91	22	not published
Samlesbury Church of England SchoolPreston	0.90	10	not published
Cop Lane Church of England Primary School, PenworthamPreston	0.90	29	not published
Ribbleton Avenue Infant SchoolPreston	0.90	58	not published
Alston Lane Catholic Primary School, LongridgePreston	0.89	19	not published
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.89	38	not published
St. Anne's Copp CofE Primary School, Great EcclestonPreston	0.89	28	not published
St Clare's Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.89	35	not published
Longridge Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	0.88	26	not published
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.88	26	not published
Deepdale Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.88	75	not published
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.87	45	3.5 miles 2026
Hoole St Michael CofE Primary SchoolPreston	0.86	7	not published
Inskip St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided SchoolPreston	0.86	7	not published
Weeton St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolPreston	0.86	7	not published
St Ignatius' Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.85	26	not published
Weeton Primary SchoolPreston	0.84	19	not published
Holme Slack Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.83	24	not published
Frenchwood Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.80	25	not published
Fulwood and Cadley Primary SchoolPreston	0.80	45	0.81 miles 2026
St Patrick's Roman Catholic Primary School, Walton-le-DalePreston	0.80	30	not published
Fulwood, St Peter's Church of England Primary School and NurseryPreston	0.79	29	not published
Pool House Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.79	24	not published
Preston Greenlands Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.79	19	not published
Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Ingol, PrestonPreston	0.78	23	not published
Bamber Bridge St Aidan's Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	0.78	18	not published
Catforth Primary SchoolPreston	0.77	13	2.8 miles 2026
Ingol Community Primary SchoolPRESTON	0.71	28	not published
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Medlar-with-WeshamPreston	0.71	14	not published
Brookfield Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.70	23	not published
Garstang Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.68	25	not published
St Mary and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, GarstangPreston	0.67	6	not published
Ashton Primary SchoolPreston	0.66	29	not published
Kirkham and Wesham Primary SchoolPreston	0.63	27	not published
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School, PrestonPreston	0.61	28	not published
Lea Community Primary SchoolPreston	0.59	56	not published
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary SchoolPreston	0.58	12	not published
The Roebuck SchoolPreston	0.55	40	not published
Kennington Primary SchoolPreston	0.54	35	not published

First preferences per place is the number of families naming the school first, divided by its published admission number. Above 1.00 means more first choices than places. It is not a ranking and not a measure of quality: a popular school can be easy to get into and a quiet one hard, because places are allocated by each school's own criteria, siblings and faith and banding first, with distance often the last tie-breaker. Applications and offers on national offer day, DfE.

Year 7 places, September 2026

22 schools. 9 received more first preferences than they had places.

School	First preferences per place	Places	Cutoff distance
Corpus Christi Catholic High SchoolPreston	1.84	151	not published
Broughton High SchoolPreston	1.39	168	not published
Lostock Hall AcademyPreston	1.20	156	not published
All Hallows Catholic High SchoolPreston	1.18	171	not published
Preston Muslim Girls High SchoolPreston	1.18	120	not published
Moor Park High SchoolPreston	1.11	127	not published
Penwortham Priory AcademyPreston	1.09	151	not published
St Cecilia's RC High SchoolPreston	1.07	119	0.5 miles 2026
Ashton Community Science CollegePreston	1.02	169	not published
Penwortham Girls' High SchoolPreston	0.99	161	2.9 miles 2026
Eden Boys' School, PrestonPreston	0.96	121	not published
Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High SchoolPreston	0.94	159	1.5 miles 2026
Tarleton AcademyPreston	0.94	137	not published
Our Lady's Catholic High SchoolPreston	0.93	175	0.8 miles 2026
Carr Hill High SchoolPreston	0.93	155	not published
Hutton Church of England Grammar SchoolPreston	0.85	147	5.3 miles 2026
Longridge High SchoolPreston	0.84	184	not published
Garstang Community AcademyPreston	0.84	156	not published
Christ The King Catholic High SchoolPreston	0.79	95	not published
Fulwood AcademyPreston	0.70	197	not published
Walton-Le-Dale High SchoolPreston	0.56	134	not published
Archbishop Temple Church of England High SchoolPreston	0.48	205	not published