Skip to content

Before you apply

Before submitting your application, it is important to find out as much information you can about the schools in your area as well as any schools you are thinking of applying for, to ensure you make the right choice for your child.

Research information on schools before you apply

View our schools' directory for details of each secondary school including school type, Ofsted and performance reports.

Please read the admissions criteria for each school to see the priority that applies to your child. This will give you an idea of how likely it is you will gain a place at a preferred school. Priority is usually given to those children that have one or more siblings at the preferred school or those that live in the catchment area for a school. 

Consider how your child will travel to and from school.

Here’s how places were allocated last year, and the lowest admission criterion met.

Understanding the different types of schools

In the schools' directory you will find information on each school including the type of school, these include:

  • Community schools
  • Trust schools
  • Voluntary-aided schools
  • Voluntary-controlled schools
  • Academies
  • Free schools

Further information can viewed here, understanding the different types of school.

Applying for schools outside of Leicester City

You can apply for any mainstream school including schools outside your local area (schools in Leicestershire for example) as we will co-ordinate with the council responsible for that school when processing your application.

If you are planning to apply for school in Leicestershire we would recommend you use all four preferences and include your Leicester City catchment school as one of your four preferences. This is due to some Leicestershire schools being very oversubscribed.

Applying for a school on religious grounds

The following schools give priority on religious grounds and require a supplementary information form (SIF) to be completed. 

The completion of a SIF will ensure that the correct admissions criterion is applied to your application. SIF’s must be returned directly to the school by no later than 15 January 2021. SIF’s can also be collected directly from the school.

  • Christ the King Catholic Primary School
  • Falcons Primary School
  • Holy Cross Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
  • Hope Hamilton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
  • Krishna Avanti Primary School
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy
  • St John the Baptist Church of England Primary School
  • St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy
  • St Patrick’s Catholic Voluntary Academy
  • St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy

Please ensure that a receipt is collected from the school as proof of submitting your SIF as the school cannot be held responsible for applications lost in the post or for any late submissions.  

Special educational needs (SEN)

All schools make provision to support children who have special educational needs. Some children have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and these children may attend either a mainstream school or a special school.  

If your child has an EHCP, the SEN Co-ordinator at your child’s current school will start the process of their annual review in autumn 2020 to establish which school they will be attending in autumn 2021. If your child is undergoing a statutory assessment please contact your Education, Health and Care Inclusion Officer (EHCIO) for further advice, as this may affect the school that your child goes to.

If your child has special educational needs but does not currently have an EHCP you should apply in the normal way.

Deferring your child’s school place

If you feel that your child is not ready to start school in the September following their fourth birthday, you can take up the option to defer entry until the start of term after they turn five. You will need to discuss and agree your start date directly with your child’s school.  

Legally, children are required to start their compulsory education from the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday.

Please see the table below to see what options are open to you.

Child's birthday Options
1 September - 31 December Child can attend full or part-time from August or defer admission until the start of the term in January
1 January - 31 August Child can attend full or part-time from August or defer admission up until the start of the final term in April

Summer born children

There are exceptions for summer-born children (children born between 1 April to 31 August). If your child was born in the summer and you're thinking of deferring their admission by a full school year, please read our guidance on summer born children.

Next section: How we process your application