A new school year has officially begun and whilst National Offer Day may feel like a lifetime away, it was a tense time for many families and unfortunately not all children received the school allocation they had wished for.
According to Lancashire County Council, 86.1% of children were awarded their first-choice school but that meant 13.9% were left disappointed.
The latest available DfE figures show which Lancashire secondary schools were the hardest to get into in September 2025 so take a look at the 15 toughest schools below...
9. Millfield Science & Performing Arts College (8)
227 pupils put this school as their first choice but only 161 first choice offers were handed out which is a success rate of 70.93% | Google Maps
10. Preston Muslim Girls High School (7)
163 pupils put this school as their first choice but only 114 first choice offers were handed out which is a success rate of 69.94% Photo: Google Maps
11. Christ the King Catholic High School (6)
122 pupils put this school as their first choice but only 83 first choice offers were handed out which is a success rate of 68.03% | Google Maps
12. Whitworth Community High School (5)
190 pupils put this school as their first choice but only 128 first choice offers were handed out which is a success rate of 67.37% | Google Maps