Attendance

At Bridge Junior School, we want every child to attend school regularly and arrive on time. Good attendance helps children to learn, build friendships and feel that they belong.

We are very proud that our attendance for 2025/26 was 96.6%. The national attendance rate for state-funded primary schools was approximately 94.7%, meaning that Bridge’s attendance was almost two percentage points higher. Thank you to our pupils and families for helping us achieve this.

Every Day Matters

Missing school regularly can leave children with gaps in their learning and make it harder for them to keep up. Attendance of 90%, for example, means missing approximately 19 school days across the year.

Registration begins at 8:30am and the school day finishes at 3:05pm. Arriving on time helps children to begin the day calmly and avoids missing important learning.

We understand that children sometimes become unwell or families experience difficult circumstances. If your child cannot attend:

• contact the school office as early as possible on the first day of absence;
• explain why your child is absent and keep us updated;
• arrange routine medical and dental appointments outside school hours wherever possible;
• speak to us early if your family is experiencing difficulties that may affect attendance.

Leave during term time can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances and must be requested in advance. Family holidays are not normally considered exceptional.

Our first response to attendance concerns is always to work with families. Please contact us if you need advice or support.

The latest national figures are available from the Department for Education.

Admissions

Bridge Junior School is a state-funded junior school for pupils in Years 3 to 6 and is part of Attenborough Learning Trust.

Admissions are coordinated by the local authority. Families living in Leicester should apply through Leicester City Council, which offers places on behalf of the school.

Applying for a Year 3 Place

The Published Admission Number for Year 3 is 90 pupils.

For children starting Year 3 in autumn 2027:

• applications opened on 1 September 2026;
• the closing date is 15 January 2027;
• National Offer Day is 16 April 2027.

Applications received after the closing date are treated as late and may be considered after applications received on time. We strongly encourage families to apply before the deadline.

You can apply for a junior school place through Leicester City Council.

If you live outside Leicester City, you should apply through the local authority where you live.

How Places are Allocated

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming Bridge Junior School are admitted before other applications are considered.

If there are more applications than places, the remaining places are prioritised in the following order:

1. Looked-after and previously looked-after children.
2. Children living within the school’s catchment area.
3. Children with an older sibling attending the school at the same time.
4. Children with an exceptional medical, social or domestic need supported by professional evidence.
5. Children of eligible members of school staff.
6. Children living nearest to the school, measured in a straight line.

Living in the catchment area does not guarantee a place.

In-Year Applications

An in-year application is needed if your child requires a place during the school year, has recently moved to Leicester or wishes to transfer from another school.

In-year applications are also coordinated by Leicester City Council. You can apply for an in-year school place online.

Appeals and Waiting Lists

If your child is not offered a place, Leicester City Council will explain:

• how the waiting list operates;
• your right to appeal;
• how to submit an appeal to an independent appeal panel;
• the relevant deadlines.

For help with an application, contact Leicester City Council’s School Admissions Service:

Telephone: 0116 454 1009, option 1
Email: admissions.online@leicester.gov.uk

You can also contact the school office if you would like to visit Bridge Junior School or learn more about our school before applying.