‘Record numbers’ have secured place at their first-choice school

MORE than 90 per cent of secondary school applicants in Leicestershire have secured a place at one of their preferred schools.

Latest county council figures show 7,918 applications were received - an increase of more than 400 on 2021 - and 92.8 per cent now have a place at one of their topthree choices.

Nearly 7,000 students have been offered their first-choice option, a record number, according to the council. This equates to 84.7 per cent of all applicants, while 6.5 per cent secured their second choice and 1.6 per cent their third choice.

Children and parents are now being notified of their school place.

Councillor Deborah Taylor, deputy leader and cabinet member for children and families, said: “We’re extremely pleased that a record number of our children have secured their first choice of secondary school, bringing our figures broadly in line with last year.

“These are encouraging numbers, particularly as we have several hundred more children in the system this year and bearing in mind the popularity and continued high performance of Leicestershire’s secondary schools.

“The number of secondary places available in the county has been increased to over 8,300 in response to our highest-ever number of secondary transfer requests for entry in September.”

Cllr Taylor urged people who have not secured one of their preferred choices to get in touch with the school admissions service as soon as possible to discuss the options available to them, including the appeal process.

To find out more, or to contact the service, visit: