diff --git a/e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts
index 5bc91d6..614a21c 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts
@@ -417,6 +417,9 @@ test('a secondary search row compares its Attainment 8 with the LA average', asy
   // guards the comparison itself; the unit test pins the cache mode.
   const la = await (await page.request.get('/api/la-averages')).json();
   const averages: Record<string, number> = la.secondary?.attainment_8_by_la ?? {};
+  // DfE publishes about 152 LA averages. An empty map (a missing mart, or a
+  // year the LA data set has not reached) hides every comparison: fail, not skip.
+  expect(Object.keys(averages).length).toBeGreaterThan(100);
   const res = await page.request.get('/api/schools?search=school&phase=secondary&page_size=50');
   expect(res.ok()).toBeTruthy();
   const school = ((await res.json()).schools ?? []).find(
@@ -435,23 +438,35 @@ test('a secondary search row compares its Attainment 8 with the LA average', asy
 
 test('an independent secondary shows its Attainment 8 without an LA comparison', async ({ page }) => {
   // DfE's LA averages cover state-funded schools, and an independent school's
-  // Attainment 8 leaves out IGCSEs, so a gap would mislead (audit H2).
-  const res = await page.request.get('/api/schools?school_type=independent&phase=secondary&page_size=50');
-  expect(res.ok()).toBeTruthy();
-  const school = ((await res.json()).schools ?? []).find(
-    (s: { attainment_8_score?: number | null; school_type?: string }) =>
-      s.attainment_8_score != null && !/special/i.test(s.school_type ?? ''));
-  test.skip(!school, 'no independent secondary with an Attainment 8 here');
+  // Attainment 8 leaves out IGCSEs, so a gap would mislead (audit H2). A state
+  // school on the same page must show its gap first, so the absence is real.
+  const la = await (await page.request.get('/api/la-averages')).json();
+  const averages: Record<string, number> = la.secondary?.attainment_8_by_la ?? {};
+  expect(Object.keys(averages).length).toBeGreaterThan(100);
 
-  const averagesLoaded = page.waitForResponse(r => r.url().includes('/la-averages'));
-  await searchByName(page, school.school_name);
-  await averagesLoaded;
-  const link = page.locator(`a[href^="/school/${school.urn}-"]`).first();
-  await expect(link).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
-  const stats = link.locator('xpath=ancestor::div[contains(@class, "__rowContent")][1]')
+  type Row = { urn: number; school_type?: string; local_authority?: string; attainment_8_score?: number | null };
+  const compared = (s: Row) => s.attainment_8_score != null && s.local_authority != null
+    && averages[s.local_authority] != null
+    && !/special|pupil referral|alternative provision/i.test(s.school_type ?? '');
+  let found: { la: string; state: Row; independent: Row } | null = null;
+  for (const name of ['Kensington and Chelsea', 'Westminster', 'Camden', 'Hammersmith and Fulham', 'Barnet']) {
+    // The search page asks for the same first 50 schools.
+    const res = await page.request.get(`/api/schools?search=${encodeURIComponent(name)}&phase=secondary&page_size=50`);
+    const schools: Row[] = ((await res.json()).schools ?? []).filter(compared);
+    const independent = schools.find(s => /independent/i.test(s.school_type ?? ''));
+    const state = schools.find(s => !/independent/i.test(s.school_type ?? ''));
+    if (independent && state) { found = { la: name, state, independent }; break; }
+  }
+  test.skip(!found, 'no LA here lists a state and an independent secondary on one page');
+
+  await page.goto(`/?search=${encodeURIComponent(found!.la)}&phase=secondary`);
+  const stats = (urn: number) => page.locator(`a[href^="/school/${urn}-"]`).first()
+    .locator('xpath=ancestor::div[contains(@class, "__rowContent")][1]')
     .locator('[class*="__line3"]');
-  await expect(stats.getByText(school.attainment_8_score.toFixed(1))).toBeVisible();
-  await expect(stats.getByText(/vs LA avg/)).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(stats(found!.state.urn).getByText(/vs LA avg/)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+  const independent = stats(found!.independent.urn);
+  await expect(independent.getByText(found!.independent.attainment_8_score!.toFixed(1))).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(independent.getByText(/vs LA avg/)).toHaveCount(0);
 });
 
 test('a secondary shows its 2023/24 GCSE results, the last year DfE published Progress 8', async ({ page }) => {