Applications open for secondary school places

Parents and carers of Year 6 pupils are being encouraged to apply for their child’s secondary school place for September 2025.

The window for secondary school applications opens today (Thursday 12 September) and runs until the national closing date of 31 October 2024.

Parents and carers can submit their applications at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions.

The website includes information on different schools and their admissions criteria.

The 31 October deadline for applications is a national deadline. Applications made after this date will be considered once all on-time applications have been determined. This means applying late could reduce the chance of a child being offered a place at their preferred school.

When submitting their applications, parents are encouraged to:

• visit their preferred school
• carefully consider each school’s admissions criteria
• consider how their child will get to and from school
• use all six preferences on their application

Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “Parents of Year 6 students across Essex are now able to submit their applications for secondary school places and I would urge them to do so before the national closing date of 31 October.

“We’re keen to maintain our excellent record of securing preferred places for Year 7 pupils in Essex, but we can only do this if parents complete their child’s secondary school place application correctly and by the deadline.”