Parents across Birmingham face an anxious wait after the deadline for primary school applications passed on Thursday night. Newly analysed government data has now highlighted the city's 15 most competitive primary schools, where securing a first-choice place is toughest.
The Most Sought-After Schools in Birmingham
The figures, sourced from the latest Department for Education statistics for the 2025/26 academic year, rank schools based on the proportion of families who were successful in getting a place after listing it as their first preference. The data paints a clear picture of high demand and limited places at several key institutions.
The Olive School, Birmingham emerges as the most competitive. A significant 234 pupils listed it as their first choice, but only 84 received first-choice offers. This equates to a success rate of just 31%.
In second place is The Olive School, Small Heath. Here, 130 first-choice applications were made, with 57 offers handed out, resulting in a success rate of approximately 43%.
Lea Forest Primary Academy takes the third spot. It received 107 first-choice applications and made 60 offers, giving it a success rate of around 56%.
Al-Furqan Primary School in Tyseley ranks fourth. With 123 first-choice applications and 73 offers, its success rate stands at 59%.
Understanding the Admissions Landscape
The publication of this data comes at a critical time for families. The annual process sees parents submit their preferences, often hoping for a place at a school with a strong reputation or specific ethos. The figures underscore the intense competition for places at certain academies and faith-based schools within the city.
While these four schools lead the list, the full data set reveals eleven other primary institutions where first-choice acceptance rates were notably low. The analysis serves as a crucial indicator of parental preference and school popularity within different Birmingham neighbourhoods.
What This Means for Parents
With the application window now closed for this year, the focus shifts to allocation day, when families will discover which school their child has been offered a place at. The stark statistics highlight the importance of parents including realistic backup options on their application forms.
Education experts often advise that a thorough understanding of catchment areas, admissions criteria, and a school's historical oversubscription rate can help families make more informed choices. The data for the 2025/26 year, released on 16th January 2026, provides exactly this insight for future applicants.
The competitive landscape revealed by the Department for Education figures is a reminder of the pressures on popular school places in England's second city. It also prompts ongoing discussions about capacity, funding, and how to meet the educational needs of Birmingham's growing young population.
