diff --git a/e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts
index 6ae1d16..9e26557 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,19 @@ async function twoPrimaryUrns(page: Page): Promise<[string, string]> {
   return [urns[0], urns[1]];
 }
 
+async function twoSecondaryUrns(page: Page): Promise<[string, string]> {
+  const res = await page.request.get('/api/schools?search=school&per_page=100');
+  expect(res.ok()).toBeTruthy();
+  const body = await res.json();
+  const urns: string[] = (body.schools ?? [])
+    .filter((s: { phase?: string; attainment_8_score?: number | null }) =>
+      s.phase === 'Secondary' && s.attainment_8_score != null,
+    )
+    .map((s: { urn: number }) => String(s.urn));
+  expect(urns.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
+  return [urns[0], urns[1]];
+}
+
 test('home page loads with hero search', async ({ page }) => {
   await page.goto('/');
   await expect(page.locator('h1').first()).toBeVisible();
@@ -199,6 +212,23 @@ test('comparing two schools shows the parent-first sections side by side', async
   }
 });
 
+test('comparing two secondary schools renders the secondary sections', async ({ page }) => {
+  const [urn0, urn1] = await twoSecondaryUrns(page);
+
+  await page.goto(`/compare?urns=${urn0},${urn1}`);
+  await expect(page.locator(`a[href*="${urn0}"]`).first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+
+  // The parent-first sections must render — this page was completely blank
+  // for all-secondary baskets (expert review must-fix #1).
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'At a glance' }).first()).toBeVisible({
+    timeout: 15_000,
+  });
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Ofsted inspection' }).first()).toBeVisible();
+  // A KS4 measure proves the secondary academics variant rendered.
+  await expect(page.getByText(/Attainment 8/i).first()).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText(/No primary schools in your comparison/)).toHaveCount(0);
+});
+
 test('compare chart on mobile shows school chips with tap-to-focus', async ({ page }) => {
   await page.setViewportSize({ width: 390, height: 844 });
 
diff --git a/nextjs-app/__tests__/components/ComparisonView.phase.test.tsx b/nextjs-app/__tests__/components/ComparisonView.phase.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4fd5716
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nextjs-app/__tests__/components/ComparisonView.phase.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+/**
+ * Regression: an all-secondary comparison must render the secondary sections.
+ *
+ * The basket hydrates from the URL a beat after mount, so the auto-phase
+ * effect must re-run once selectedSchools arrives — with deps of only
+ * [comparisonData] it fired once against an empty basket, bailed, and the
+ * page stayed on an empty "primary" tab ("No primary schools in your
+ * comparison") even though all schools were secondary.
+ */
+
+import { render, screen, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
+
+import { ComparisonView } from '@/components/ComparisonView';
+import { ComparisonProvider } from '@/context/ComparisonProvider';
+import type { ComparisonData, School } from '@/lib/types';
+
+const fetchComparison = jest.fn();
+jest.mock('@/lib/api', () => ({
+  fetchComparison: (...args: unknown[]) => fetchComparison(...args),
+}));
+jest.mock('@/lib/analytics', () => ({ track: jest.fn() }));
+
+function secondarySchool(urn: number, name: string): School {
+  return {
+    urn,
+    school_name: name,
+    local_authority: 'Testshire',
+    school_type: 'Academy converter',
+    attainment_8_score: 55,
+    phase: 'Secondary',
+  } as School;
+}
+
+function data(urn: number, name: string): ComparisonData {
+  return {
+    school_info: secondarySchool(urn, name),
+    yearly_data: [{ year: 202425, attainment_8_score: 55 }] as ComparisonData['yearly_data'],
+    ofsted: null,
+    census: null,
+    admissions: null,
+    admissions_history: [],
+    deprivation: null,
+  };
+}
+
+const INITIAL_DATA = {
+  '300': data(300, 'Gamma High'),
+  '400': data(400, 'Delta Academy'),
+};
+
+test('an all-secondary comparison renders the sections, not an empty primary tab', async () => {
+  render(
+    <ComparisonProvider>
+      <ComparisonView
+        initialData={INITIAL_DATA}
+        initialNationalAverages={{
+          year: 202425,
+          primary: {},
+          secondary: { attainment_8_score: 46 },
+          by_year: [],
+        }}
+        initialBenchmarks={undefined}
+        initialUrns={[300, 400]}
+        metrics={[]}
+        selectedMetric="attainment_8_score"
+      />
+    </ComparisonProvider>,
+  );
+
+  await waitFor(() => {
+    expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { name: 'At a glance' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+  expect(screen.getAllByText('Gamma High').length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  expect(screen.queryByText(/No primary schools in your comparison/)).toBeNull();
+  expect(fetchComparison).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+});
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx b/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
index 600794e..fd42e1e 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
@@ -173,7 +173,11 @@ export function ComparisonView({
     if (!metricFitsPhase) {
       setSelectedMetric(newPhase === 'secondary' ? 'attainment_8_score' : 'rwm_expected_pct');
     }
-  }, [comparisonData]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+    // selectedSchools is a dep because the basket hydrates after mount: the
+    // first run sees an empty basket and bails, so it must re-fire when the
+    // schools arrive. primarySchools/secondarySchools/metrics/selectedMetric
+    // are intentionally omitted (derived or would cause loops).
+  }, [comparisonData, selectedSchools]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 
   const handlePhaseChange = (phase: 'primary' | 'secondary') => {
     phaseLockedByUser.current = true;