Admissions demand explained

Each year local authorities run coordinated admissions for primary (usually Reception) and secondary (usually Year 7) entry. Families list preferences; schools make offers under published oversubscription rules.

The Department for Education publishes school-level counts of preferences and offers for each cycle. UKSchoolSearch imports those official figures and shows them on school profiles, compare, search filters and place-level figure lists.

Demand ratio is 1st preferences divided by total offers on national offer day (DfE’s published definition). A ratio above 1 means more families put the school first than places offered that day; below 1 means fewer first preferences than offers.

We also show a plain-English label (for example “Competitive” or “Often has places”) derived from that ratio. Labels are a reading aid only — always check the academic year and phase on the school page.

Demand ratio is not catchment distance, last distance offered, or a prediction that your child will get a place. Oversubscription criteria (siblings, distance, faith, banding and so on) vary by school and local authority.

Use the school’s admissions policy, your council’s guide, and open days alongside these statistics. Preference volume can change between cycles.