These were the Sheffield secondary schools that had to turn away the most children this year because they were so oversubscribed.
All parents want the best education for the children, but some schools are just that much harder to get into.
The most exclusive schools can turn away more pupils than they even have places to offer - such is the case at Sheffield’s Mercia School, which once again had two Y7 children vying for every seat in class this year.
Below, we've listed which Sheffield secondary schools were the most 'oversubscribed' for the 2026/27 academic year, meaning they were the hardest to get into in time for September 2026.
5. #8 - Astrea Academy, S3, Astrea Academy Trust
The 7th most oversubscribed secondary school in Sheffield for 2026/27 was Astrea Academy, which turned down 38 pupils to fill its 165 available places, an oversubscription rate of 23 per cent. Astrea celebrated A-Level results day in 2026 with 29 per cent of all grades earned coming in as A*s or As. | Astrea Academy
6. #6 - King Ecgbert School, S17, Mercia Learning Trust
The 6th most in demand secondary school in Sheffield for 2026/27 was King Ecgbert School, which turned down 74 pupils to fill its 258 available places, an oversubscription rate of 29 per cent. The school is one of the best performing in the city, and was rated Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted in November 2024. | Google Maps
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7. #5 - Silverdale School, S11, Chorus Education Trust
The 5th most in demand secondary school in Sheffield for 2026/27 was Silverdale, which turned down 78 pupils to fill its 240 available places, an oversubscription rate of 33 per cent. Silverdale says its results at GCSE Results Day 2026 were the best it's ever had, with a third of all results in English and Maths coming in at Grade 7 to 9. | National World/Scott Merrylees
8. #4 - King Edward VII School, S10
The 4th most in demand secondary school in Sheffield for 2026/27 was King Edward VII, which turned down 88 pupils to fill its 240 available places, an oversubscription rate of 37 per cent. The school is an odd-one-out in Sheffield - not only is it the oldest school in the city, but it is now also the only one not part of an academic trust. | Google