Before you apply
Before submitting your application, it is important to find out as much information you can about the secondary schools in your area as well as any secondary schools you are thinking of applying for, to ensure you make the right choice for your child.
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Research information on secondary 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 to start secondary school in autumn 2024 [pdf file], 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
- Academies
- Free schools
Further information can viewed here, understanding the different types of school.
Applying for schools outside of Leicester
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 recommend you use all four preferences and include your Leicester catchment school as one of these. This is because some Leicestershire schools are 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.
- Avanti Fields School
- English Martyrs Catholic School
- Madani Boys’ School
- Madani Girls’ School
- Saint Paul’s Catholic School
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 31 October 2024. SIF’s can also be collected directly from the school.
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 2024 to establish which school they will be attending in autumn 2025. 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.
Next section: How we process your application
