Rise in number of primary school children offered preferred schools in Leeds

Families in Leeds applying for their child’s first primary school place are receiving their offers today (16 April) and more of them are being offered their first choice than last year.

This year 89.2% of children were given their 1^st preference school, up from 87% last year.

Overall 9178 children (98.3%) have been allocated a place at one of their top five preferred schools.

Alternative places have been offered to 155 children (1.7%) who were not able to be offered any of their preferences. This is down from 2.9% last year.  These alternative places are at schools within 1.3 miles of their home address, with 137 children offered a place less than a mile from home.

Families are recommended to always include the school where they receive catchment or nearest priority as one of their preferences and to make sure they use all five preferences to have the best chance of being offered a preferred or local school.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for Learning, Skills and Employment said:

“Choosing a school for a child is one of the most important decisions parents and carers will make and we are pleased that we have been able to offer 98.3% of families one of their five preferences this year. We understand how stressful it can be when a family is not happy with the place they have been allocated and we will do everything we can to work with anyone in this situation.”

Parents need to accept their offer of a school place as soon as possible by contacting the school directly.  Parents who wish to decline their offer need to make sure they have another offer, or a plan for how their child will receive education, first.

They can also request to be added to the waiting lists at schools where they have not been offered a place and should do this by the 30 April 2021.   If parents wish to appeal, an appeal form should be submitted by 14 May 2021 to ensure any appeal is heard before the summer holidays.   Information on this can be found at www.leeds.gov.uk/offerday 

Notes to editors:

The council will be allocating 9333 Reception places for September 2021 at schools in Leeds (9666 last year, a reduction this year of 333 allocations).

This fall in demand for places follows a decline in the birth rate and a reduction in movement into the area. As a result, a number of schools have vacancies available on national offer day.

The below data relates to the places allocated in Leeds schools.

8333 (89.2%) children were given their 1^st preference (8438 / 87% last year)

565   (6%)  children were given their 2^nd preference (623 / 6% last year)

180   (2%)  children were given their 3^rd preference (178 / 1.7% last year)

64     (1%) children were given their 4^th preference (92 / <1% last year)

36     (<1%) children were given their 5^th preference (50 / <1% last year)