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.
9. #3 - High Storrs, S11, Minerva Learning Trust
The 3rd most in demand secondary school in Sheffield for 2026/27 was High Storrs, which turned down 97 pupils to fill its 244 available places, an oversubscription rate of 40 per cent. High Storrs is another of the city's top performers, with half of all grades in biology, chemistry and physics coming in at grades 8 or 9 at GCSE Results Day 2026.
.jpeg?trim=0,542,0,455&crop=&width=800)
10. #2 - Tapton School, S10, INOVA
Tapton School is the second most in demand secondary school in Sheffield for 2026/27 after turning away 154 pupils to fill its 268 pupils, an oversubscription rate of 58 per cent. Tapton also said 2026 was its best ever GCSE Results Day, with 25 per cent of all grades awarded at grades 9-8. | Iconic Media
11. In first place - Mercia School, S7
The most exclusive secondary school in Sheffield for 2026/27 is, once again, Mercia School, which turned away more pupils that it even had places for. It turned down 248 pupils to fill its 194 available spots, an oversubscription rate of 128 per cent. Mercia sent five pupils off to Oxbridge at this year's A-Level Results Day, with 58.2 per cent of all grades awarded at A or A*. | Mercia School