Sefton: 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

Sefton had 6 clearly oversubscribed secondary schools with a single published last distance offered in both 2025 and 2026. On National Offer Day 2026, 1 had a shorter distance than the year before and 5 a longer one. None of the 6 stayed within 10% of the previous year's figure.

In 2026, 89.0% of secondary applicants were offered their first preference (England 83.6%; 51st highest of 152 councils). In 2026, 91.4% of primary applicants were offered their first preference (England 92.4%; 52nd lowest of 152 councils).

At Formby High School, the distance only counts inside a priority group

Sefton Council's admissions guide shows how many places each school offered under each criterion. At Formby High School no place went to the distance criterion, the one open to any other applicant, in 2024, 2025 or 2026. Every place went to a priority group, the last being children living in Formby, Hightown or Ince Blundell.

• In 2026 Formby High offered 172 places: 4 to children with an education, health and care plan, 6 to looked-after children, 52 to brothers and sisters, 53 to children at Freshfield, Redgate or Trinity St Peter's primaries, 1 to a child of staff and 56 to other children living in the named areas. 443 applications were made.
• The furthest distance published rose from 0.993 miles in 2025 to 3.439 miles in 2026, which is why its change below looks so large. With no places on distance in either year, neither figure is a cut-off for families outside the named areas without a higher priority.

Source: Sefton Council, Admissions to Schools information guide 2027, pages 174 to 175. First choices not offered: Department for Education.

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).

The biggest moves, as published

• Hillside High School: 0.994 mi in 2025, 0.645 mi in 2026 (−35%). Council source
• Formby High School: 0.993 mi in 2025, 3.439 mi in 2026 (+246%). Council source

Year-by-year distances for every school in Sefton are in the pass, each with its source and offer date.

Reception (primary)

Clearly oversubscribed primary schools in Sefton with a single published last distance offered in both years:

Open Sefton on the map Schools in Sefton

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.

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 Sefton 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: sefton.gov.uk: admissions schools information guide 2027. Applications and offers: Department for Education (OGL v3.0).