Luton: how secondary school cut-offs moved in 2026
Last distance offered, Year 7, National Offer Day 2025 compared with 2026 · Catchmently analysis of council figures
Luton had 7 clearly oversubscribed secondary schools with a single published last distance offered in both 2025 and 2026. On National Offer Day 2026, 5 had a shorter distance than the year before and 2 a longer one. Only 2 of the 7 stayed within 10% of the previous year's figure.
In 2026, 82.8% of secondary applicants were offered their first preference (England 83.6%; 68th lowest of 152 councils). In 2026, 92.6% of primary applicants were offered their first preference (England 92.4%; 73rd lowest of 152 councils).
School by school
How each school's last distance offered changed between 2025 and 2026, and how many families who put it first were not offered a place in 2026 (Department for Education).
| School | Change, 2025 to 2026 | First choices not offered, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Icknield High School Luton | −30% shorter | 16 |
| Challney High School for Boys Luton | −27% shorter | 18 |
| The Chalk Hills Academy Luton | −26% shorter | 31 |
| Denbigh High School Luton | −10% shorter | 222 |
| Putteridge High School Luton | −10% shorter | 53 |
| Chiltern Academy Luton | +4% longer | 68 |
| Challney High School for Girls Luton | +31% longer | 35 |
The biggest moves, as published
- Icknield High School: 1.212 mi in 2025, 0.852 mi in 2026 (−30%). Council source
- Challney High School for Girls: 0.587 mi in 2025, 0.768 mi in 2026 (+31%). Council source
Year-by-year distances for every school in Luton are in the pass, each with its source and offer date.
Reception (primary)
Clearly oversubscribed primary schools in Luton with a single published last distance offered in both years:
| School | Change, 2025 to 2026 | First choices not offered, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Tennyson Road Primary School Luton | +62% longer | 24 |
Open Luton on the map Schools in Luton
Before you apply
A school's last distance offered depends on how many children apply, how many siblings take places first, which priority group the last place fell in and how the council measures distance. If the last place went to a group such as catchment or siblings, the distance, and how it moved, only applies within that group. Look at three or more years, read each school's admission rules and use every preference. Secondary applications close on 31 October 2026 (key dates, offer day and appeals). Read how to read a last distance offered or the national picture.
Check the schools near you
Catchmently maps every school in England with its Ofsted report, results and the admissions figures councils publish, each linked to its source. Searching is free. The one-off 3-month pass shows each school's last distance offered year by year.
Method and sources
- "Clearly oversubscribed" means at least 10 first-preference applicants were not offered a place in both 2025 and 2026. Selective schools and schools with banded or multi-row figures are left out, so not every Luton school appears here.
- Distances are compared as published by the council, in its own way of measuring, and shown in miles. A last distance offered is not a catchment area and does not show any family's chance of a place. Schools where the council shows the last place falling in a different priority group each year are left out. Other large swings can reflect catchment changes or added places rather than demand.
- Council publications: luton.gov.uk: how to apply for a school place guide 2027. Applications and offers: Department for Education (OGL v3.0).