Applications open for next year’s school places

Applications for children moving from primary to secondary need to be made by the 31st of October.

Parents and carers with children due to start primary or secondary school for the first time in Leicestershire next year (autumn 2025) can now apply for their places.

Applications for children moving from primary to secondary need to be made by the 31st of October while first-time primary applications and applications for transfers between infant and junior schools need to be in by the 15th of January.

Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “We know that choosing the right school is very important, which is why we have included lots of information about the process and details about county schools on our website.

“From this year, you will be able to select up to five school preferences. We recommend you apply for at least three, including one in your catchment area, to give yourself the best chance of securing a place for your child at a local school.

“There is no automatic entry for any school, so it is very important for applications to be made before the closing dates.”

Applications for 2025/26 can be made at leicestershire.gov.uk/admissions where there is also information about county schools and hints and tips on applying.

The county council has produced a ‘Hints and tips’ guide to applying for a school place:

• Select at least three schools, including one in your catchment area. You can select a maximum of five schools
• Choosing just one school will not increase your child’s chances of securing a place there. If you’re not offered a place at your chosen school, and don’t have other preferences on your list, you could be offered a school some distance away   
• Make sure you’re happy with your order of preference 
• If you’re applying for an education, health, and care plan (EHCP) and you think your child might attend a specialist school, it is still important to fill out an application for a mainstream school place. This will ensure they will have a school place in the autumn
• Parents and carers are also being urged to make sure they know whether they live in a school’s catchment area by checking their website or phoning the school. This is often a key factor in getting a place.

Allocated school places will be announced on national offer days – March 1 2025 (secondary) and April 16 2025 (primary).