School places day: Sheffield children find out primary school allocations
More than 5,000 pupils will head to their first choice school
Children across Sheffield will learn today which school they will be heading off to in September when they start at reception.
And for most, the news has been good, as figures show that 95.04 per cent - a total of 5,250 pupils - have been granted a place in their top choice primary school.
In total, 99.6 per cent have been given a place in their top three choices, with only 60 pupils - or 1.08 per cent - having none of their preferences met.
The outcomes in Sheffield for 2026 were:
- First preferences met - 95.04 per cent (5,250 pupils)
- Second preferences met - 3.46 per cent (191 pupils)
- Third preferences met - 0.42 per cent (23 pupils)
- No preferences met - 1.08 per cent (60 pupils)
Sheffield City Council said that places are limited and ‘unfortunately’ not everyone can go to their preferred school.
A council spokesperson added: “The number of preferences met remains very high. Yet it is unfortunately not always possible to accommodate all catchment area applicants because places are limited by the size of the school.
“If a pupil has not been offered a place at one of its three preferred schools, a place will be offered at the nearest available school.”
Figures show a slight dip from last year, where 96.89 per cent of applicants were allocated their top preferences.
However, this year saw more pupils applying - 5,524 in 2026, compared to 5,456 in 2025 - with similar numbers gaining a place at their top three choices.
The biggest difference was those with those where no preferences were met, with only 22 pupils - or 0.4 per cent - not finding a place in one of their choices last year, compared to 60 this year.
The outcomes for 2025 were:
- First preferences met – 96.89 per cent (5,286 pupils)
- Second preferences met - 2.53 per cent (138 pupils)
- Third preferences met - 0.18 per cent (10 pupils)
- No preferences met - 0.4 per cent (22 pupils)
Parents of pupils who did not find a place in any of their preferred schools have the right to appeal the decision, with a deadline for submitting forms on Friday, May 15.
A council spokesperson said: “Sheffield City Council holds waiting lists for pupils who didn’t get a place at a school that they ranked higher than that which was allocated.
“Parents should be aware there is no guarantee of obtaining a school place from the waiting list but to bear in mind that there is always movement between March and September.
“The waiting list will come into operation from today and will be maintained until July 2027.”