Parents across the UK are awaiting the allocation of primary school places for their children aged three and four for the academic year starting in September 2024. On National Primary School Offer Day, local councils will inform families of their children’s school placements. Historically, most children receive an offer from one of their top three preferred primary schools, with a significant percentage securing their first choice.

For those who do not receive their preferred school, there is an option to appeal while accepting the offered placement to ensure that the child has a school place secured. Appeals should be prepared carefully, focusing on showing how the admission criteria may have been misapplied or highlighting specific needs of the child that align with the chosen school.

In London, specifically in Islington, the Blessed Sacrament Catholic School is set to close by July 31 due to significantly reduced pupil numbers and financial unviability. This closure reflects a wider trend across London, where a demographic shift and falling birth rates are leading to excess capacity in schools, forcing some closures for economic reasons.

This year, approximately 92.5 percent of families in the UK received their first-choice primary school, with the remaining 7.5 percent needing to consider their options, such as accepting an alternative offered school and pursuing appeals if desired. For appeals, families must present their case to an independent panel within 40 school days of the appeals deadline, with decisions typically announced within five days of the hearing.

As families navigate the primary school placement process, they are encouraged to adhere closely to all provided guidelines and deadlines to optimize the educational opportunities for their children.