As Birmingham families await National School Offers Day, oversubscription rates at primary schools reveal significant competition for limited places, leaving many applicants disappointed.
As Birmingham families prepare for National School Offers Day, the city’s primary schools have been highlighted for their oversubscription rates. On Wednesday, April 16, Birmingham City Council is set to email parents, informing them whether they have secured a place for their children at their preferred primary school for the upcoming September term.
Research conducted by Birmingham’s data team reveals that some of the most sought-after primary schools in the area have limited capacity, accepting only a fraction of first-choice applicants. This situation can lead to disappointment for many families, given that several of the schools feature acceptance rates significantly below half.
The Olive School in Tyseley emerges as the most competitive institution, offering a mere 36% of places to its first-choice applicants. Not far behind is The Olive School in Small Heath, where only 44% of applicants were successful in their bids for admission. St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School in central Birmingham showcased a notable disparity, granting only 30 places to the 56 children who designated it as their first choice, translating to 54% acceptance.
Similarly, Lea Forest Primary Academy in Kitts Green was able to accommodate just 60 out of 107 applicants, yielding a 56% success rate. At Moseley Church of England Primary School, the competition was fierce, with only 30 of 52 applicants (58%) successfully securing a spot in the new intake.
Adam Ames, a headmaster in Birmingham, has contributed insights on selecting the right school for children, sharing tips via the Brummie Mummies Podcast.
The list of the top 20 hardest schools to gain admission to in Birmingham reflects these challenges. The complete rankings, including the number of first-choice requests and places allocated, are detailed as follows:
- The Olive School, Birmingham – 234 requests; 84 places offered (36%)
- The Olive School, Small Heath – 130 requests; 57 places offered (44%)
- St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School – 56 requests; 30 places offered (54%)
- Lea Forest Primary Academy – 107 requests; 60 places offered (56%)
- Moseley Church of England Primary School – 52 requests; 30 places offered (58%)
- Al-Furqan Primary School – 123 requests; 73 places offered (59%)
- St Thomas CofE Academy – 47 requests; 28 places offered (60%)
- The Shirestone Academy – 46 requests; 30 places offered (65%)
- Nishkam Primary School Birmingham – 89 requests; 59 places offered (66%)
- Acocks Green Primary School – 79 requests; 53 places offered (67%)
- St Peter’s Catholic Primary School – 44 requests; 30 places offered (68%)
- Grendon Primary School – 43 requests; 30 places offered (70%)
- Cofton Primary School – 80 requests; 57 places offered (71%)
- Harborne Primary School – 165 requests; 119 places offered (72%)
- Barr View Primary & Nursery Academy – 77 requests; 58 places offered (75%)
- West Heath Primary School – 69 requests; 52 places offered (75%)
- Chilcote Primary School – 77 requests; 59 places offered (77%)
- Four Oaks Primary School – 77 requests; 59 places offered (77%)
- Christ The King Catholic Primary School – 60 requests; 46 places offered (77%)
- Colebourne Primary School – 78 requests; 60 places offered (77%)
A spokesperson for the Department for Education stated that the proportion of primary school applicants receiving an offer for their first preference increased by 0.7 percentage points to 93.2%. This shift is attributed to a 2.3% decline in the overall number of applicants, totalling around 555,600, marking a trend of reduced applications since 2020. The spokesperson noted that this decline might have been influenced by pandemic-related factors that affected timely applications, alongside a continuing decrease in birth rates observed since 2016.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20119/school_admissions/1330/oversubscription_criteria – This URL supports the discussion on oversubscription criteria for community schools in Birmingham, including the priority given to looked-after children, siblings, and proximity to the school.
- https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/27978/primary_school_admissions_arrangements_2025.pdf – This document provides details on primary school admissions arrangements for 2025, outlining the processes and criteria for allocating school places in Birmingham.
- https://www.coventry.gov.uk/school-admissions/primary-school-admissions/print – While not specific to Birmingham, this URL offers insights into the general principles of primary school admissions and oversubscription in nearby Coventry, reflecting similar challenges and processes.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is claimed as the original publication of the article discussing Birmingham schools’ oversubscription rates and related data.
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-admissions – This government guidance provides a general framework for school admissions, which can be applied to understanding the processes in Birmingham, though it is not specifically mentioned in the search results.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be recent and timely, referencing upcoming events in April 2025. However, it does not contain specific breaking news or updates that would confirm it is fully current and exclusive.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
There are few direct quotes provided, and those available, such as insights from Adam Ames, lack specific online sources for verification. Additionally, the Department for Education’s statement might be common across many publications.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Birmingham Mail, a known and reputable local publication. However, there is no mention of the Department for Education’s specific statement source or date, which would enhance credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about school oversubscription rates seem plausible and consistent with typical challenges faced by primary schools in Birmingham. The data on acceptance rates and the factors influencing application numbers appear logical.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is generally reliable, with fresh and timely information, and it originates from a reputable source. While the lack of specific quotes’ sources is noted, the overall plausibility and source credibility support the accuracy of the content.
