Good News for Parents Looking for Leicester Family Home

If you are a parent looking to buy or rent your next Leicester family home, then the availability of school places may be a deciding factor. If you are considering a Leicester property, there is good news, however, as new figures show that more people than ever have been offered their first choice of primary school this year.

April 18 was National Offer Day, and almost 90 per cent of people who applied on time in Leicester received their first choice of school. In total, 4,552 on-time primary school applications were received, and an impressive 4,057 of these, representing 89. 1 per cent, were offered their first preference.

A further 5.8 per cent, or 265 people, were offered their second choice, and 1.1 per cent, or 52 people, received their third. These figures revealed that 50 more applicants were offered a first-choice place compared to 2016, and a massive 96 per cent received one of the three preferences specified.

Cllr Sarah Russell, who is Leicester’s assistant city mayor for children, young people and schools, said that investment from the city council has helped more children than ever to secure a place at their family’s first choice of school.

Of the small number (178 families) who did not get a place for their child at one of the schools they specified, a huge 85 per cent had not named three preferences – instead only choosing two or one schools.

In more good news for parents looking at Leicester properties to buy or rent, one of the city’s primary schools is celebrating the official opening of a £3 million extension. Wolsey House Primary School, located in Beaumont Leys Lane, now features six new classrooms, a new reception classroom and a new bigger staff room. These improvements mean that the school can boost its intake by another 210 pupils.

The city council says that the new extension provides flexible learning space and modern facilities. The school’s headteacher, Helen King, said that they felt ‘fortunate’ to have benefited from the city’s programme of primary school expansion and the enhanced learning environment created.

The new facilities are already in use, and chair of governors, Jenny McHugh, said that the extension was already making a ‘big difference’ to children and staff at Wolsey House.

Leicester City Council is continuing with a programme of expansion and extension for both secondary and primary schools to meet demand for pupil places. More than 1,000 extra primary school places were created for 2016/17, and there are even more planned for next year.

If you are looking for your next Leicester Family Home, we can help. Get in touch with the Keywest team for the highest standards of advice and expertise available anywhere within the Leicester property market. Call us today on 01162 544 555.