SchoolFacts.uk

School admissions in Rochester

How heavily each school was applied to for September 2026 entry, from the applications and offers every admissions authority reports to the DfE. 18 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.

Rochester in figures

For Reception places in September 2026, families named the 31 schools in Rochester first 1,310 times for 1,318 places: 0.99 first choices per place. 11 of the 31 had more first choices than places. For 2025 entry, 2 schools here gave their last places on distance, from 1.26 miles (Burham Church of England Primary School) to 2.76 miles (Higham Primary School).

For Year 7 places in September 2026, families named the 7 schools in Rochester first 1,513 times for 1,476 places: 1.03 first choices per place. 4 of the 7 had more first choices than places.

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

31 schools. 11 received more first preferences than they had places.

SchoolFirst preferences per placePlacesCutoff distance
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)Rochester1.7730not published
Leigh Academy High HalstowRochester1.4330not published
Chattenden Primary SchoolRochester1.4030not published
Leigh Academy Hundred of HooRochester1.2860not published
St Margaret's at Troy Town CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolRochester1.2528not published
Rochester Riverside Church of England Primary SchoolRochester1.2259not published
St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary SchoolRochester1.2030not published
Temple Mill Primary SchoolRochester1.1730not published
All Faiths Children's AcademyRochester1.0727not published
Cliffe Woods Primary SchoolRochester1.0360not published
Cuxton Community Infant SchoolRochester1.0260not published
St Helen's Church of England Primary School, CliffeRochester1.0031not published
St James Church of England Primary AcademyRochester1.0012not published
English Martyrs' Catholic Primary SchoolRochester0.9625not published
Gordons Children's Academy, InfantRochester0.9649not published
Warren Wood Primary SchoolRochester0.9645not published
Bligh Primary School (Infants)Rochester0.9374not published
Cedar Children's AcademyRochester0.9266not published
Halling Primary SchoolRochester0.9252not published
Elaine Primary SchoolRochester0.9021not published
Balfour Infant SchoolRochester0.8966not published
Burham Church of England Primary SchoolRochester0.89271.263 miles 2025
Wainscott Primary SchoolRochester0.8859not published
Leigh Academy Peninsula EastRochester0.8825not published
Higham Primary SchoolRochester0.86212.76 miles 2025
Wouldham, All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolRochester0.85551.302 miles 2024
Hilltop Primary SchoolRochester0.8360not published
St Nicholas CEVC Primary SchoolRochester0.8222not published
Hoo St Werburgh Primary School and the MarlboroughRochester0.7880not published
Crest Infant SchoolRochester0.7054not published
St Peter's Infant SchoolRochester0.7030not 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

7 schools. 4 received more first preferences than they had places.

SchoolFirst preferences per placePlaces
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical SchoolRochester1.67201
The Rochester Grammar SchoolRochester1.18204
The Thomas Aveling SchoolRochester1.14204
Maritime AcademyRochester1.01172
Leigh Academy Hundred of HooRochester0.83275
Leigh Academy StroodRochester0.81246
St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive SchoolRochester0.59174

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.