Hundreds of children missed out on a place at their preferred school in Sefton this year, official figures reveal.
Across England, 8% of primary school applicants and 17% of secondary school applicants did not get a place at their first choice school, affecting nearly 150,000 children in total.
In the North West, 7.1% of applicants did not get into their first choice primary school and 15% did not secure a place at their preferred secondary school. This meant 5,521 primary and 12,808 secondary aged children did not get a place at their first choice school.
How competitive is it to get into your local school?
Here we reveal in reverse order which Sefton schools are the hardest to get into.
1. St Michael's Church of England High School
St Michael’s Church of England High School had 138 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 113 of these were offered places. This means 25 applicants or 18.1% did not get a place.
2. St John's Church of England Primary School
St John’s Church of England Primary School had 33 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 27 of these were offered places. This means 6 applicants or 18.6% did not get a place.
3. Chesterfield High School
Chesterfield High School had 351 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 284 of these were offered places. This means 67 applicants or 19.1% did not get a place.
4. St Nicholas Church of England Primary School
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School had 34 applicants put the school as a first preference but only 27 of these were offered places. This means 7 applicants or 20.6% did not get a place.