Applications for state-funded primary school places are now open, and families across Harrogate will be looking ahead to find the right local school for their children next year.
They will need to apply before January 15 in order to have the best chance of landing an offer from one of their preferred schools, with the outcome to be revealed on national offers day a few months later - on April 16.
While generally the odds are good across Harrogate, unfortunately, some children will miss out. Nationwide, about 92.6% got into their first choice of primary school for the 2025/26 school year.
With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at the Department of Education’s latest data on schools across the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency area, comparing how many parents put each one down as their top pick, with how many first-choice offers were actually sent out.
Here were the toughest state primary schools to get into for the current school year:
7. Aspin Park Academy
This year, 73 parents put this primary academy in Knaresborough down as their top pick. But only 59 first choice offers were handed out – a success rate of just under 81%. | Google
8. St Mary's Primary School
This year, 30 parents put this Catholic primary academy in Knaresborough down as their top pick. But only 26 first choice offers were handed out – a success rate of just under 87%. | Google
9. Hampsthwaite Church of England Primary School
This year, 22 parents put this Church of England primary academy in Hampsthwaite down as their top pick. But only 20 first choice offers were handed out – a success rate of just under 91%. | Google
10. Killinghall Church of England Primary School
This year, 29 parents put this Church of England primary academy in Killinghall down as their top pick. But only 27 first choice offers were handed out – a success rate of just over 93%. | Google