St. Helens school admissions

For a September 2027 start, secondary applications close on 31 Oct 2026 and primary applications on 15 Jan 2027. Always confirm details on the council's own admissions page.

How to apply

Apply online through the council where you live, naming several schools in order of preference — including schools in other council areas. Every preference is considered equally against each school's admission criteria, and you're offered the highest-ranked school that can offer you a place.

We haven't yet confirmed the council's admissions page link.

GOV.UK: School admissions

Key dates for September 2027

Secondary applications close	31 Oct 2026	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Primary (reception) applications close	15 Jan 2027	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Secondary national offer day	1 Mar 2027	1 March or next working day
Primary national offer day	16 Apr 2027	16 April or next working day

Appeals

The council hasn't published a single appeal date we've confirmed. By law you must have at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter.

Source: School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Applications and offers by school, 2026/27

Catchment areas and admission decisions are made by the school's admissions authority (the local council or, for academies and many faith schools, the school or trust). Distances and past figures don't guarantee a place.

Secondary schools (9)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Cowley International College	243	481	213	213	2.0 per offer
De La Salle School	228	553	234	211	2.4 per offer
Hope Academy	184	289	168	168	1.6 per offer
Outwood Academy Haydock	135	285	123	123	2.1 per offer
Rainford High School	258	609	312	256	2.4 per offer
Rainhill High School	292	545	269	258	1.9 per offer
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy	96	225	84	84	2.3 per offer
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School	175	291	163	163	1.7 per offer
The Sutton Academy	255	525	298	254	2.1 per offer

Primary schools (53)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Allanson Street Primary School	59	109	72	55	1.8 per offer
Ashurst Primary School	29	74	22	22	2.6 per offer
Billinge Chapel End Primary School	27	66	26	26	2.4 per offer
Bleak Hill Primary School	90	192	92	85	2.1 per offer
Broad Oak Community Primary School	60	85	52	52	1.4 per offer
Carr Mill Primary School	41	65	42	40	1.6 per offer
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School	8	31	6	6	3.9 per offer
Eaves Primary School	30	106	44	30	3.5 per offer
Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School	34	114	51	33	3.4 per offer
Eccleston Mere Primary School	57	118	47	47	2.1 per offer
Garswood Primary and Nursery School	27	44	34	27	1.6 per offer
Grange Valley Primary School	29	88	47	28	3.0 per offer
Haydock English Martyrs' Primary School	30	49	28	27	1.6 per offer
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School	12	26	10	10	2.2 per offer
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School	29	62	31	27	2.1 per offer
Legh Vale Primary School	41	70	31	31	1.7 per offer
Longton Lane Community Primary School	43	86	43	41	2.0 per offer
Lyme Community Primary School	30	59	30	29	2.0 per offer
Merton Bank Primary School	21	40	14	14	1.9 per offer
Newton-le-Willows Primary School	56	131	47	47	2.3 per offer
Nutgrove Methodist Primary School	27	62	25	25	2.3 per offer
Oakdene Primary Academy	29	83	27	27	2.9 per offer
Parish Church of England Primary School, St Helens	30	62	35	27	2.1 per offer
Queen's Park CofE/Urc Primary School	57	96	45	45	1.7 per offer
Rainford Brook Lodge Community Primary School	30	67	25	24	2.2 per offer
Rainford CofE Primary School	30	71	40	29	2.4 per offer
Rectory CofE Primary School	4	9	3	3	2.3 per offer
Rivington Primary School	29	93	45	28	3.2 per offer
Robins Lane Community Primary School	28	98	38	25	3.5 per offer
Sherdley Primary School	57	138	53	49	2.4 per offer
St Aidan's CofE Primary School Billinge	18	45	18	18	2.5 per offer
St Ann's Church of England Primary School	56	115	54	54	2.1 per offer
St Anne's Catholic Primary School	35	56	32	32	1.6 per offer
St Austin's Catholic Primary School	29	63	29	27	2.2 per offer
St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School	26	64	26	26	2.5 per offer
St James' Church of England Primary School	20	32	13	13	1.6 per offer
St John Vianney Catholic Primary School	30	66	29	26	2.2 per offer
St Julie's Catholic Primary School	28	89	28	28	3.2 per offer
St Mary & St Thomas CofE Primary School	29	82	38	27	2.8 per offer
St Mary's Catholic Infant Academy	46	83	44	44	1.8 per offer
St Mary's Catholic Primary School	16	42	14	14	2.6 per offer
St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School	30	52	28	28	1.7 per offer
St Peter's CofE Primary School	28	84	42	27	3.0 per offer
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Devon Street	30	54	25	25	1.8 per offer
St Theresa's Catholic Primary School	29	46	29	28	1.6 per offer
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School	30	86	32	29	2.9 per offer
St. Mary's Blackbrook Catholic Primary School	37	74	35	35	2.0 per offer
Sutton Manor Community Primary School	24	42	22	22	1.8 per offer
Sutton Oak CofE Primary School	37	49	27	27	1.3 per offer
Thatto Heath Community Primary School	66	90	60	60	1.4 per offer
The District CofE Primary School	44	74	46	44	1.7 per offer
Wargrave CofE Primary School	57	93	53	53	1.6 per offer
Willow Tree Primary School	11	38	10	10	3.5 per offer

Source: DfE secondary and primary school applications and offers (Open Government Licence v3.0).

St. Helens term dates · Check schools near a postcode

Questions

When is the St. Helens secondary school application deadline?

31 October for a September start, set nationally by the School Admissions Code. Late applications are usually considered only after on-time ones.

How long do I have to appeal?

Admission authorities must give you at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter (usually offer day). Many councils publish a specific date — use the council's date where shown.

Does this page tell me my chance of getting a place?

No. Places depend on each school's oversubscription criteria, which change every year. Only the admissions authority decides.